Rabid fox

[daviskh]

I had a rabid skunk here at my barn last monday. It went right in the barn with my german sheppard tied up in the isle and skunked her. Went out the opposite door of the barn, and while I was trying to throw rocks at him (w/out any other weapon at hand) to get him to leave, he kept coming after me and the rocks as they landed. I called a friend to come over with a shotgun and he took care of it, but that darned skunk stuck around, bother me and my horses and dog for 15 mins. Was not scared at all. I called the Health dept and they came and picked it up, and tested positive for rabies. All my animals were up to date on their rabies shots, but I had the dog reboosted since she was close enough to get skunked. I've never seen anything so strange as a wild animal, steadily coming at me and my flash light in his eyes even. Be ware! If your animal isn't up to date on rabies, they will make you quarantine them for 6 months from human contact to be sure they don't show signs. It is so deadly. Vaccinating your pets/livestock is your first line of defense against rabies. DO IT! it's worth it.

I'm not saying rabies isn't deadly, and I support rabies vaccinations, I'm just say that common sense needs to come into play when rescues are trapping/neutering and releasing feral cats. None of the animals mentioned were cats. They were wild animals.

 

[ironintestines]

I'm not saying rabies isn't deadly, and I support rabies vaccinations, I'm just say that common sense needs to come into play when rescues are trapping/neutering and releasing feral cats. None of the animals mentioned were cats. They were wild animals.

So, what's your version of "common sense" when dealing w/ loitering wild animals??

I think a feral cat classifies as a wild animal also

 

[Pasofever]

I had a rabid skunk here at my barn last monday. It went right in the barn with my german sheppard tied up in the isle and skunked her. Went out the opposite door of the barn, and while I was trying to throw rocks at him (w/out any other weapon at hand) to get him to leave, he kept coming after me and the rocks as they landed. I called a friend to come over with a shotgun and he took care of it, but that darned skunk stuck around, bother me and my horses and dog for 15 mins. Was not scared at all. I called the Health dept and they came and picked it up, and tested positive for rabies. All my animals were up to date on their rabies shots, but I had the dog reboosted since she was close enough to get skunked. I've never seen anything so strange as a wild animal, steadily coming at me and my flash light in his eyes even. Be ware! If your animal isn't up to date on rabies, they will make you quarantine them for 6 months from human contact to be sure they don't show signs. It is so deadly. Vaccinating your pets/livestock is your first line of defense against rabies. DO IT! it's worth it.

Ugg scary..it was at night? I feed late at night too..I have the horses and llamas vaccinated for rabies..I wonder if I can get Wee done too..I would have killed it with a shovel or something if I could have..you could not get your hands on anything deadly?? Glad all is ok..

 

[SoMDGirl42]

In my neighborhood

I live off of Rt 6 about 2 miles from Lettie Dent Elementary. My neighbor called me because she knows I have little kids here during the day and she also was concerned I might have pre-K kids getting on the school bus in about an hour.

She called Animal Control about this fox in her yard, acting strangely and obviously sick. It wandered off up the street. AC caught it, and told neighbor that it was the third one in the last week or so...the other 2 were in Golden Beach (about 3 miles from here).

AC said it could be rabies or it could be distemper, but they don't test them unless there is known to be contact with a human or other animal.

I'm surprised no one else picked up on this. If AC caught it, didn't the animal then have human contact?

 

[daviskh]

So, what's your version of "common sense" when dealing w/ loitering wild animals??
[I think a feral cat classifies as a wild animal also

Unfortunately that is the mistake of many people. Many feral cats live in your neighbor's backyards or behind grocery stores. These cats have been given names and their "caretakers" can provide you with their history and personalities. Many "caretakers" can pet their ferals but let someone else come near and they will run.

There has never been a report of a feral cat giving rabies to someone. It's usually the cute kitten or the friendly house cat; and maybe that is because feral cats still have a natural aversion to other species and run the opposite way.

I have seen my "house cats" walk up to foxes and raccoons, but never has one of my feral cats. And yes, I feed the wildlife, including birds. Rabies needs to be stopped where it begins. Provide oral vaccines to wildlife...don't kill a cat just because it has bite wound from an unknown animal; because it is more likely from another cat in its colony.