Skulking skunk surprises sleeping man

Pinal County Public Health is issuing a rabies advisory and urging Pinal County residents to have their animals vaccinated against the fatal disease. On Wednesday, a Mammoth-San Manuel area man was startled awake by something pawing at his face. It turned out to be a stealthy skunk that had entered the man’s home through his dog door.

He was able to get the skunk outside where he killed it with a shovel. The skunk tested positive for rabies, a fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans and other animals through contact with bodily fluids.

“Although this situation may paint an amusing picture, the outcome is far from amusing,” Pinal County Public Health Director Tom Schryer explained. “The gentleman will have to undergo a series of vaccinations to prevent the rabies infection and, if he cannot prove that his family pets are current on their vaccinations, they will be quarantined or euthanized.”

“We never want to take a family pet away from the home, but we are left with no choice if there is a chance it could develop rabies and spread it to other animals or even people. Rabies is basically 100 percent fatal once symptoms appear, and that is a risk we cannot afford to take with people’s lives. A simple shot would both prevent rabies in your pet and keep us from having to euthanize animals that are exposed,” Schryer said.

Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord of animals and humans. It is caused by a virus present in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted to humans through contact with the live virus. Rabies is fatal to humans once symptoms appear. There has not been a documented case of human rabies in Pinal County for decades; however, every year in Pinal County there are several humans exposed to rabid animals.

While human exposures to rabid animals are rare, family pets are more often exposed to wild animals, including wild animals that are rabid. Pets should be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccine is available at veterinary offices or through county animal care and control.

Contact Pinal County Animal Care and Control for more information concerning rabies vaccination for pets and vaccination clinic times and locations at 520-509-3555 or toll free at (888) 431-1311.

Rabies can occur in animals anywhere in the county. In the last few years, the southern and eastern portions of Pinal County have had the most activity. Rabies is found mainly in wild animals such as bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, bobcats and coyotes. Cats, dogs, and livestock can also become infected with rabies if they are bitten by rabid wild animals and they have not been vaccinated. Rodents such as rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs and squirrels are not likely to be infected with rabies. Wild animals exhibiting unusual behavior should be reported to local animal control officials.

The first sign of rabies is usually a change in the animal’s behavior. Animals may act more aggressive or more tame than usual. Animals usually active at night such as skunks, foxes and bats may be out during the day. Rabid animals may appear agitated and excited or paralyzed and frightened. Sometimes, rabid animals do not show any signs of illness before death from rabies.  That is why contact with wild animals should always be avoided.

The Pinal County Public Health Services District recommends the following precautions:

*   Keep people and pets away from wild animals. Do not pick up, touch or feed wild or unfamiliar animals, especially sick or wounded ones. If someone has been bitten or scratched, or has had contact with the animal, report it immediately to animal control or health officials.
*   Do not “rescue” seemingly abandoned young wild animals. Usually, the mother will return. If the mother is dead or has not returned in many hours, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
*   Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies. Pets should be kept in a fenced yard.
*   Take precautions when camping, hunting or fishing. Avoid sleeping on the open ground without the protection of a closed tent or camper. Keep pets on a leash and do not allow them to wander.
*   Do not disturb roosting bats. If you find a bat on the ground, don’t touch it. Report the bat and its location to your local animal control officer or health department. Place a box over the bat to contain it. Be careful not to damage the bat in any way since it must be intact for rabies testing.

For more information about rabies, call the Pinal County Public Health Services District at 520-866-7138 or the Arizona Department of Health Services at 602-364-4562.