Recent research shows that petting zoos are breeding grounds for E. coli, a bacterium commonly present in animal feces that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness in humans. It’s rare, but not unheard of, that the infection can become deadly.

People can pick up an E. coli bacterial infection by petting the cuddly creatures or surfaces around them, or by eating or drinking while touching and feeding the animals.

You don’t have to cut out the fun to cut back your risk of infection. Prevention is relatively simple, according to studies presented at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta. The researchers determined that the riskiest behaviors are easily avoidable.

The most effective way to reduce your risk of infection is to wash your hands after feeding or petting the animals. Be sure to wash thoroughly. Lather your hands well with soap, rinse in running water and dry them on a clean, uncontaminated cloth. If you dry your clean hands on your dirty jeans, you’ve undone all your hand washing. Wash them again before eating, just to be safe.

Don’t take food or drinks into the petting zoo. If you eat or drink around the animals, your risk of ingesting E. coli rises dramatically.

If something falls on the ground in a petting zoo, don’t pick it up. You can be pretty sure there are feces on the ground—best to leave whatever falls there.

Try to avoid stepping in manure—always a good idea, anyway—and carefully clean your shoes or clothes if you’ve gotten manure on them.

Don’t roll a stroller into the zoo. The wheels are likely to pick up E.coli, which can be transferred to your children as the touch the stroller or you as you load it into your car.

Follow these simple suggestions and it’ll pay off. The researchers reported that, among the people they studied, those who washed their hands after visiting the petting zoo escaped illness.