Posted on 05/08/2010 9:24:20 AM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — The Army heath center on Fort Huachuca is looking to remind those with children to ensure they avoid unfamiliar or stray animals, wild or otherwise, after two young children were seen playing with a skunk that was later determined to be rabid last week.
The Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center release advocating caution does not specify if either of the children, young boys between the ages of 6 and 9, were infected.
Rabies spreads through the bite and saliva of infected animals, and can also be spread if there is contact with the animal’s saliva to a person’s open cuts or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, mouth or nose, the statement reads.
The health center asks that anyone with children who report playing with skunks be checked for scratches or bite marks.
The “spray” of a skunk does not spread rabies, according to the statement.
Anyone with questions or concerns may call the Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center at 533-9200.
Those off post who wish to report a stray or wild animal can contact Sierra Vista animal control officers at 458-4151.
Rabies is caused by a virus and leads to brain inflammation in warm-blooded animals. The infection is almost always fatal to humans if a vaccination is not given before severe symptoms begin.
“Playing with a skunk”? WTH?
City folk. *sigh*
Yeah, that one puzzled me too.
Perhaps they thought it was stripped Demi-CAT.
Nana and I had the same response...playing with a skunk?
Wonder how long these two boys had been living on Post?
Or Pepe le Pew? Flower, from the movie Bambi?
Wonder if they’ve had to take multiple baths in tomato juice to get rid of pepe-le-stink.
I’m not that rural, but I’ve still taught my kids that any wild animal that doesn’t run away from them is dangerously sick, and to run for an adult.
Don’t know but the word went out via all HUAC Official Notice HIGH-PRIORITY at 12:24 PM to everyone about it.
Really?
Never saw it...
Just forwarded it to you.
By “abid skunk” is meant one of the Cinco de Mayo organizers?
a Demi-CAT
““Playing with a skunk”? WTH?”
As a counrty boy who grew up on a east Texas farm I can tell you with great authority that if you pick a skunk up by it’s tail it will not spray you. If you don’t believe me give it a try....
That's mostly true, from experience. But as one who worked with and rescued (wildlife rehab) skunks for over a decade, I'll comment that you're actually better off letting the skunk cling to your arm (suitably protected, of course) and tuck/wrap their tail UNDER them from the hindquarters with the tip under your arm.
They won't spray their own tail, and unless they can get it raised away from their anal glands, they're basically disarmed. (They can still scratch and bite, of course.)
My wife and I used that technique countless times when rescuing wild skunks that had gotten themselves under porches, etc.
Of course, we also got sprayed countless times trying to get close enough to the skunk to grab it. That is always the worst part... tomato juice doesn't work worth a damn, BTW. There are commercial de-odor preparations that attack the mercaptan compounds, that do work quite well.
They never found/identified the kids, according to the email. We might have 2 rabies infected kids going to fort schools Monday.
As someone who grew up in the rural Hill Country, I say I’ll never know.
But, um, thanks for the advice.
****Kids seen with rabid skunk***
Kids were seen with...Sharpton? Jackson? Obama?
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