Hey, Reb. Rabies IS a big deal. And it's extremely fatal for humans unless they're vaccinated quickly after exposure. If you think you have a rabid coon out there, your state health authorities probably need to know that so they can check the body and test for other rabid animals in the area and warn pet owners. If the wounded coon has babies, chances are good they have it, too. And if you do find the coon after it has died, it's still dangerous then, too.

Rabies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia