North Carolina health officials are urging anyone who had contact with baby goats from Farm Adventures—a mobile petting zoo based in Harmony—to contact their local health department after four goats tested positive for rabies and were euthanized.
The infected goats had contact with visitors at off-site events or the Harmony location between July 28 and August 27, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Health officials emphasized that only those who had direct contact with the animals during this period are at risk and should seek a rabies risk assessment and potential preventive treatment.
Farm Adventures confirmed in a Facebook statement that the goats—identified as Molly, Maggie, Cow, and Uno—were euthanized after a necropsy revealed rabies infection. The zoo stated that the goats were kept in a separate pen because they were too young for vaccinations when a skunk allegedly entered the pen and bit them. The zoo reported that the animals showed no symptoms at the time.
Health officials stress urgency for exposed individuals
Mecklenburg County Health Director Dr. Kimberly Scott urged residents to contact their local health department immediately rather than waiting for symptoms to appear. “There is not a broad risk to the public—only those who attended events at the mobile petting zoo and were in close contact with the goats are at risk,” Scott said.
The NCDHHS and local health departments are coordinating with Farm Adventures to identify all potential exposure locations. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details about affected events will be released as they become available.
Rabies risk and prevention
Rabies is a rare but fatal disease in humans if untreated before symptoms develop. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports fewer than 10 human rabies deaths annually in the country. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a series of vaccinations, can prevent infection if administered promptly after exposure.
Farm Adventures stated it is cooperating fully with health officials and has implemented monitoring protocols for its remaining animals under official guidelines. The mobile petting zoo operates in multiple counties across western North Carolina, including Iredell County, where it is based.