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Confirmed Rabid Raccoon Found In North Escambia
May 29, 2009
A rabid raccoon has been found in North Escambia, prompting the Escambia County Health Department to urge caution among area residents.
The raccoon was shot and killed by a resident on Crabtree Church Road in Molino after it attacked his dog. That raccoon has been confirmed to have rabies, according to Ed Parent with the Escambia County Health Department. He did not know where on the 5-mile long Crabtree Church Road the incident occurred.
He said it is not believed that the raccoon had contact with any people other than the resident that shot it. The resident used gloves to handle the raccoon after it was dead, Parent said, and the raccoon did not infect the man. Additionally, Parent said there have been no reports of any animal bites in Escambia County at area hospitals during the past several weeks.
The dog bitten by the raccoon has been quarantined in a kennel and is being observed for any signs of the illness, but, so far, the health department said the dog appears to be fine.
“It is important that people stay away from raccoons,” Parent said. “They may or may not appear aggressive. You can’t just look at a raccoon and tell if it might be rabid by the way it acts.”
Anyone concerned about a raccoon on their property can call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at (850) 265-3676. In the event of an emergency only, call (850) 245-7710. Anyone that finds a dead raccoon on their property should not touch the animal and should call one of the numbers immediately.
Comments
7 Responses to “Confirmed Rabid Raccoon Found In North Escambia”
I live off of hwy 29 with a field behind me that leads to crabtree church road. On june 30th,2009 i was working in my yard and heard a dog in distress. I went to help this dog who had a wire wrapped around its foot and it bit me-I went to the emergency room and got stitched up but never got treatments for rabies I have no insurance and can’t afford it. The dog was never found and i stumbled across this because i have been worried-why wouldn’t the health department inform me of this confirmed case with-in a few miles of my house?
I totally agree with Jacke! I would never put myself in that position and would hope no one else in their right mind would either! If some kind of wild animal attacked any of mine….well you better believe that I’m gonna use any means neccessary including a gun to get the other animal away! maybe a shot in the air first but if that doesnt work then i’m sorry for the wild animal! my baby (my dog) has protected me many times so its only fair that i return the favor and protect him!
Okay…seriously. I just have to say something to “annoyed”. There is NO way anyone should put themselves at risk of contracting rabies just to put down an animal “peacefully”. Have you ever gone through the rabies anti-virus series? If so, you would know there is nothing “peaceful” about those injections. You can’t honestly wish people would catch rabid animals and run the risk of infecting themselves or other animals. Rabies is 100% fatal! And yes, it is 100% fatal to humans as well.
Also, before it gets said and asked, I do know what I am talking about. I have gone through the rabies anti-virus series just 6 months ago. Believe me….getting 8 injections in your back on the first night and returning each week for a month is not very fun.
This is sad. I can’t stand it when people kill animals. I know it had rabies, but still. It couldn’t help that. I wish there was some way it could have been put down peacefully.
More proof that William goes above and beyond with his reporting. The PNJ didn’t have any mention of this, nor did Channel 3. Thank you once again.
thank you for reporting this…i have 1 cat the still needs to be vaccinated for rabies…and she’s an outdoor cat too.thank you so much!
I hope the dogs vaccinations were up to date.