NOBLE, Okla. — This year could be a banner year for rabies in Oklahoma.

It appears the dangerous disease is on the rise.

So far in 2012, Oklahoma has seen 35 cases of animal rabies compared to just 61 for all of 2011.

Bats and skunks are the common Oklahoma carriers out in the wild.

The skunk’s increased population could be the reason for the rise.

Rondi Large with WildCare in Noble said, “Skunks, like all wild populations, will have peaks and valleys in their numbers. This was a real mild winter so I’m not at all surprised that we are going to have increased number of skunks this year and especially babies coming on in the next month.”

Laurence Burnsed is an Epidemiologist with the Oklahoma Department of Health.