Woodchucks and raccoons are the main vectors in a noticeable rise in rabies cases across Westport this year.

Animal control officer Nicholas Vidmar counts 10 cases so far in 2024 — double what the five-year officer often sees in a typical year.

“2024 is the most I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” he said. “We have had quite a few.”

There have been no reports of bites to humans, but Vidmar said several dogs were placed in quarantine earlier this year and last week, after encounters with a confirmed or suspected rabies carrier — in one case a coyote, in the other a raccoon.

While 10 cases are confirmed, there could be more. Westport recently began collaborating with the Cape Cod and Southeast Mass Rabies Task Force, which retrieves and test carcasses suspected to be carriers at no cost to the town. There are currently six or seven carcasses awaiting testing, and another two are in Vidmar’s freezer awaiting pickup.

Woodchucks seem to be more prevalent this year, Vidmar said, recounting an incident several weeks ago when one went after a resident, the police officer who responded, and himself. That animal got away but died soon after, Vidmar said.

As always, he said, residents should call animal control, or the police, if they suspect an animal is sick.

“Don’t try to help them, don’t go out and try to contain them,” he said. “Always call. It’s a public threat.”

Vidmar can be reached at (774)264-5129; an emergency number is 508-636-1122.

Rabies was first reported in a raccoon in Massachusetts 32 years ago last month. Since then, more than 7,000 cases have been confirmed across the Commonwealth.