Rabid Skunks invade town raise stink

[haypoint]

Aggressive skunks invade town, spread stink, carry rabies [SD - edited]

By John M. Glionna

Los Angeles Times

September 11, 2012





Residents of South Dakota's state capital are holding their noses this fall and it has nothing to do with politics.



The city of Pierre is being invaded by skunks.



Animal control officials say that 60 of the furry little stinkers have been caught since June and in a town of 15,000. That translates to one possible skunk encounter for every 250 residents.



But there's an even worse danger: skunks are often rabid.



"Skunks are the reservoir of rabies out here on the Great Plains," South Dakota state epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger told the Los Angeles Times. "Skunks actually present a two-fold menace. Rabies is the biggest danger. Then the spraying. Oh, and they bite, too."



So far this year, 45 rabid animals have been caught in South Dakota, 25 of them skunks. Though the state has not had a case of rabies since 1970, officials remain vigilant.



Skunks not only have a foul odor but also a high likelihood of disease. Kightlinger says more than 60% of skunks that are tested in South Dakota are rabid.





Full text: Skunks invade South Dakota capital; rabies a danger - latimes.com

[kkbinco]

Can't help out with the rabies but here's what you use to wash out the spray..

1 Quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 Cup baking soda
2 Tablespoons dish soap(liquid)

You have to mix it up at time of use. It looses effectiveness if stored for longer than a few hours.

[Hollowdweller]

My buddy who lives up a hollow recently completed a nice cat door so his cats could come and go.

He woke up recently and was hearing a strange noise that didn't seem like the cats.

He put on his headlamp and a skunk had come thru the cat door.

It went all thru the house and finally found it's way back out thru a door he had propped open to give it every opportunity to leave

Around here it's the bats that have a lot of rabies.