Outbreaks of rabies seem to be rising across the U.S.

Six deaths from rabies have been reported over the last 12 months in the U.S. , the highest number in years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . From rabid skunks in Kentucky to gray foxes in Arizona and raccoons on Long Island, wild animals in more than a dozen places across the U.S. have experienced a rise in the deadly disease, at least partly driven by shrinking natural habitats and better surveillance.

“We are currently tracking 15 different likely outbreaks,” said Dr. Ryan Wallace, who leads the rabies team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Areas with outbreaks include Nassau County, New York , which issued a health threat over rabid animals last month, as well as Cape Cod, Massachusetts , and parts of Alaska , Arizona, Calif