Scientists think rabies started in bats. Yes, bats. They’re the perfect host—they can carry it without going totally nuts.
From there, the virus leapt to other mammals. A bat bites a raccoon. A raccoon bites a fox. Suddenly, you’ve got a chain of slobbering chaos.
It’s like a game of tag, but nobody wins. And the tagger is completely invisible until it’s too late. Creepy, right?
How Humans Accidentally Helped
Ready for the plot twist? We helped spread it. Not intentionally, obviously. But humans are masters of moving things around—plants, goods, and yes, diseases.
When Europeans colonized the Americas, they brought their dogs. Those dogs had rabies. And it spread like wildfire through native wildlife.
Same thing happened in Australia. They didn’t have rabies at all until someone’s infected dog showed up on a boat. Thanks, colonialism.
Also, let’s not forget the pet trade. Raccoons, foxes, and even mongooses have been shipped across oceans. Each one a potential “gift” of rabies.
