Just how prevalent are...

[Rory]

rabid skunks in the midwest? Eastern South Dakota? Our neighbor shot a possible in his pasture last year because it was noontime. This afternoon, DH saw one run into the granary lean-to and called the neighbor about it. Neighbor said it's probably rabid and to shoot it, but the critter had disappeared. A chicken or Canada goose is dead in there, too. Oh, and DH found a dead opossum under his workshop. Probably froze under there this winter he thinks...no smell yet. Coincidence? It was very rainy today here, so maybe the skunk was looking for a dry hideout...?

Is this a common thing? I grew up city where rabies is a 'hypothetical' disease you vaccinate your pets even though none of your pets ever got it, and no one you know of's pet ever got it. Don't get me wrong; I believe it's very real and deadly. But just how common is it around here?

BTW, just to be safe I suppose we should treat the dead opossum and chicken/goose as infected, hmmm? And keep an eye out, gun ready for that skunk.

Thanks.

[Cyngbaeld]

Only mammals can get rabies. Birds and reptiles etc cannot get it.
I've seen skunks out during the day that looked quite healthy. Coons too. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless they are staggering around looking glassy eyed.

[Linda H]

In Missouri you have to get your dog vacinated every year for rabies because its quite common here. (in California it was once every three years). I would be cautious when dealing with any dead warm blooded animal (possum, skunk, etc) but fowl doesn't get rabies.
The only bird like thing that carries rabies is bats (they are actually mamals). They're not going to fly out of the sky to attack you so no need for paranoia, but I've known one idiot to catch one that was flopping around on the ground and he ended up having to get the rabies shots.

[Macybaby]

Yup, rabies are a problem here in SD. I think it's more of a problem as you go west, but I now personally know people who have had to get rabies shots.

My coworker tried to save some baby raccoons - they were sick and she took them to the vet. They had rabies, and she and another person had to get the shots. Usually each year you hear about some people needing to get shots due to exposure. One year a little girl found a sick bat in the yard, one year a dog got it, and he had been routinely playing with neighbor kids.

I find it strange, that with as much as a problem it is, a lot of people still don't have their pets vaccinated.

Cathy

[Belly Acre]

Here in Ky I heard on the radio that skunks are the most common animal found to have rabies. But do remember when/if shooting something suspected to have rabies, rabies is a manifestation of the brain, don't shoot the animal in the head!

[AnnaS]

If you want to find out if these animals had rabies, you can bring the carcass to your vet and he/she can send the head in for analysis. In most states there is no charge to do this.

[RACCOON]

I once had a skunk that lived under the house,I never a had a mouse in the house
It played with my dog never sprayed anyone
My neighbor shot it,because he was afraid ,(must be very hard, to live afraid all the time)now I cant get rid of the mice
Rabies are very rare in Michigan,the skunk was probably hunting for something to eat
I've seen many skunks in the daytime

[Pink_Carnation]

The risk of rabies varies from year to year and not all animals that are nocturnal have it when seen in daylight. I would treat any animal you find dead as infected with something. Your county health department or vector control should have information on how prevelant rabies is in your area.

[BikerChick]

Someone who's worked with animals all his life (providing bears and big cats for commercials and running petting zoos) told me that the reason all bats and raccoons keep testing "positive" for rabies is that there is no test specifically for these species. The states use dog tests on these animals, get inconclusive answers (because the test wasn't designed for these species), but then say that they test positive in order to cover their butts. Has anyone else heard of this? The guy knows a lot about animals, but he also hates and distrusts the government with a passion.

[DQ]

(in California it was once every three years).

I've heard that the rabies vacc. is effective for three years yet many states still require a yearly booster. don't know if its true.

[Rory]

Thanks. Our dog's vaccination was two years ago. Might be wise to give him a booster, especially since he's so friendly towards anyone and anything.

No sign of the skunk since, but we do smell them around every now and then. I'd prefer to live and let live unless I knew for sure something was wrong.