It’s a milestone no one wants to celebrate: The number of rabies cases in Hall County this year has hit the big 4-0.

The 40th case was reported Friday by Hall County Animal Control.

A raccoon was found Tuesday inside the garage of a residence in the Barkers Bend area of North Hall.

Authorities shipped the animal’s remains to the Georgia Public Health Lab in Decatur, which confirmed Friday that the raccoon was infected with the rabies virus.

Animal control experts still can’t explain why rabies has been so prevalent in Hall County this year.

In a typical year, there are only about eight cases.

Anyone who observes a wild animal behaving strangely, which may be a sign of rabies, is urged to call Animal Control at 770-531-6830.