The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), through its Environmental Health Division, operates the Rabies, Disease & Vector Control Program. This program plays a crucial role in public health by managing investigations, providing education, and undertaking disease prevention activities related to animals in the Buffalo, NY area. Key responsibilities include investigating animal bites or scratches, responding to wildlife encounters involving people or pets, addressing rodent complaints often linked to improper storage of garbage or dog waste, and managing issues related to mosquito breeding sites like standing water or neglected pools. Understanding these services helps residents know when and how to seek assistance, including situations that might involve an animal control officer in Buffalo NY.
Defining Key Public Health Terms
To better understand the scope of services and potential risks, familiarity with certain terms is essential:
- Rabies: A preventable but potentially fatal viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It spreads through bites or scratches from infected animals. Vaccinating pets, avoiding wildlife, and seeking prompt medical care after exposure are crucial prevention steps. The CDC provides detailed rabies information.
- Rodent: Includes various mammals like rats, mice, squirrels, and chipmunks. While some are vital to ecosystems, others like rats and mice become pests when infesting homes, posing health risks, and causing property damage.
- Vector: An organism, such as a mosquito, tick, or flea, that transmits disease from one host to another.
- Arthropod: Organisms with jointed limbs and external skeletons, including vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
- Arbovirus: Viruses transmitted by arthropods.
Responding to Animal Bites, Scratches, and Wildlife Encounters
If you or your pet experiences an animal bite, scratch, or a concerning wildlife encounter in Erie County, contact the ECDOH immediately.
During business hours, call (716) 961-6800. After hours, call (716) 961-7898.
The department will investigate and provide guidance.
For situations requiring wildlife removal or management beyond ECDOH’s scope, such as nuisance animals on your property, consider contacting a licensed professional. A list of licensed Wildlife Control Officers can be found via the NYS DEC, or call the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation regional office at (716) 851-7000. These professionals handle situations often associated with the duties of an animal control officer.
Handling Bat Encounters in Your Home
Finding a bat indoors requires specific action due to rabies risk. Do not allow the bat to escape. Contact the ECDOH immediately at (716) 961-6800 (after hours: (716) 961-7898). Capturing the bat allows the ECDOH to test it for rabies, which is vital if potential exposure occurred.
Safely Capturing a Bat
If professional assistance isn’t immediately available, follow these steps (or view this bat capture video guide):
- Wear leather or thick work gloves.
- When the bat lands, approach it slowly.
- Place a small box or coffee can over the bat.
- Slide a piece of cardboard underneath the container’s opening to trap the bat.
- Secure the cardboard to the container with tape.
- Punch small air holes in the cardboard.
For more information, consult these resources:
Brochure: What You Need to Know About Bats and Rabies
Flyer: Bats – When to Keep Them & When to Let Them Go
Rabies Prevention: Vaccinations and Awareness
Protecting pets through vaccination is a primary defense against rabies. Erie County offers resources and clinics to help.
Erie County public health staff administering rabies vaccine to a dog at a free clinic event.
Access information on Free Rabies Vaccination Clinics for Cats, Dogs and Ferrets & Pet Health Resources.
Stay informed about local rabies activity: Animals That Tested Positive for Rabies in Erie County.
Learn about the regional Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) Program.
Erie County Rodent (Rat) Control Program
The ECDOH addresses rodent infestation complaints for residential properties with four units or fewer (excluding large apartment complexes or commercial properties). Investigations cover rat sightings, improperly stored garbage, junk/debris accumulation, inappropriate feeding of birds/wildlife, and failure to clean up dog feces – all conditions that attract rodents and potentially dangerous wildlife. Free baiting (extermination) services are provided for eligible properties.
Close-up of a Norway rat, a common pest targeted by Buffalo NY rodent control programs.
Requesting Rat Control Services
To request rat baiting or report a rodent problem, use the Rodent Service Request & Complaint Form or call (716) 961-6800.
Rat Prevention Information
Flyer: Fight Rats One Yard at a Time
Flyer: Rodent Prevention: It’s the Law
Brochure: Eliminate Food & Shelter
Arbovirus Control (Ticks, Mosquitoes)
Arboviruses are spread by bloodsucking arthropods. The ECDOH investigates complaints about standing water, unmaintained swimming pools, and other artificial containers that can serve as mosquito breeding sites.
Reporting Standing Water
Call the ECDOH at (716) 961-6800 to report conditions conducive to mosquito breeding.
West Nile Virus (WNV) and Mosquitoes
West Nile Virus (WNV) is primarily spread through infected mosquito bites. Since there’s no vaccine, prevention focuses on avoiding bites.
WNV Symptoms
Most infected individuals (about 80%) show no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can range from febrile illness (fever) to severe neurological symptoms like high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. Learn more about WNV symptoms.
WNV Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis involves considering symptoms, exposure history, and lab tests on blood or spinal fluid. There’s no specific antiviral treatment; care is supportive (rest, fluids, pain relief). Severe cases require hospitalization. Learn more about WNV diagnosis and WNV treatment.
Illustration showing common mosquito breeding sites in a residential backyard environment.
WNV Prevention
Prevent mosquito bites:
WNV and Mosquito Resources
Do Mosquitoes Love Your Home and Yard?
Flyer: Fight West Nile Virus One Yard at a Time
Lyme Disease and Ticks
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged (deer) tick. These ticks can also carry other diseases.
Close-up image of a blacklegged tick (deer tick) held on a fingertip, highlighting Lyme disease vector.
Several blacklegged ticks next to a US quarter coin for size comparison.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Early symptoms often include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic “bull’s-eye” skin rash (erythema migrans). More on Lyme symptoms.
Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis considers symptoms, rash presence, potential tick exposure, and sometimes lab tests. Prompt treatment with antibiotics is usually effective. Untreated Lyme can affect joints, the heart, and the nervous system. More on diagnosis and testing.
Lyme Disease Prevention
Reduce your risk:
- Use EPA-recommended insect repellents.
- Remove attached ticks promptly and correctly.
- Minimize tick habitats in your yard.
- Consider pesticides where appropriate.
- Follow additional Lyme prevention tips.
Tick Identification and Resources
Tick Identification Guide (CDC)
Ticks & Lyme Disease Facts (ECDOH)
Video: How to Properly Remove a Tick
Video: Tick Prevention
Video: Which Insect Repellents are Best
Tick Maps (NY State)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Animal Issues
Q: Can the ECDOH remove a dead animal (like a rat) from my property?
A: No, the ECDOH does not provide dead animal removal services. Property owners can typically dispose of small dead animals (like rats) by using gloves or a shovel, bagging the animal, and placing it in their regular trash.
Q: Will the ECDOH remove a live nuisance wildlife animal (skunk, raccoon) from my property?
A: No, the ECDOH does not offer wildlife trapping services.
Q: Does the ECDOH handle insect infestations like bed bugs, cockroaches, or spiders?
A: No, the ECDOH’s pest control services are limited to rodents (rats) under their specific program. For other insect or pest problems, property owners or occupants typically need to hire a licensed professional exterminator (certified pesticide applicator).
Q: Can the Health Department force my employer to exterminate pests at work?
A: The ECDOH does not regulate workplace environments. Workplace safety, including pest infestations, falls under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Refer to OSHA’s laws or file a complaint (1-800-321-6742).
Q: Who is responsible for exterminating pests (bed bugs, cockroaches) in my apartment?
A: Responsibility depends on the building type according to the Sanitary Code of Erie County (Section 1.14):
- Single-family dwelling: The occupant is responsible.
- Two or more units: The owner is responsible for extermination if infestation occurs in multiple units or common areas, or if infestation results from the owner’s failure to maintain the building in a reasonably pest-proof condition.
- If extermination is needed, hire a certified pesticide applicator.
- For rat problems in eligible multi-unit dwellings (4 units or less, not large complexes), contact the ECDOH Rodent Control Program.
Contact Information
Division of Environmental Health
ECDOH Building
503 Kensington Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14214
Map of Campus
Phone: 716-961-6800
(For Emergencies after regular business hours: 716-961-7898)
Fax: 716-961-6880
