Lever action on Skunk duty - rabid skunk?

603Country · July 22, 2011, 05:32 PM

While working in the side yard this afternoon, a skunk came staggering out from behind a shed. He'd take 3 wobbly steps and fall, get back up and fall again. I got the 9422 and when he got about 25 feet into the woods, I shot him. He wasn't foaming at the mouth. What are signs that a skunk is rabid? And...the shot was really about 400 yards with a 25 mph crosswind...no it wasn't.

Art Eatman · July 22, 2011, 06:43 PM

For specific signs, you'd probably do better with Google.

My rule of thumb about any such critter that acts weirdly, acts out-of-normal pattern, is to do just what you did. End any potential problem.

mete · July 22, 2011, 07:01 PM

We've recently had three foxes found with rabies .The fox population has been high so maybe mother nature is reducing the population.I expect more problem with other animals too.
I too have the attitude to destroy any animal that looks or acts abnormally. And time to educate kids also !

BigBadPigg · July 22, 2011, 07:11 PM

The wobbly steps are a sign of rabies any animal that looks like it had one to many beers.. Although it could have just been injured, I suggest not examining it though.

m17s_guy · July 22, 2011, 11:34 PM

best bet is to call animal control to have it tested. it will call attention to the fact that they have a rabies outbreak (if the animal tests positive) and allow them to highten awareness to others in the surrounding area. Rabies this time of year is not really that much of a concern. It happens every year, thousand of recorded cases. You only hear a lot about it when you get a fox running around in a subdivision or something like that. Still, i would call animal control and get mention you believe you saw signs of rabies. They should come out and remove the carcass and test it for free.

Art Eatman · July 23, 2011, 06:06 AM

My understanding is that the testers want the brain intact, so body shots are to be preferred.

Maxem0815 · July 23, 2011, 06:14 AM

Rabid skunk call animal control in your area. We have rabid foxes skunks and the animal control wants them for research not raccoons.

or the skunk had a bit to much to drink at the skunk bar ( you know drunk as a skunk)

Mace

603Country · July 23, 2011, 12:27 PM

I can't seem to find anyone to contact around here (in central Texas) regarding the rabid skunk, and as for testing the head, that's where I put the first bullet. This skunk, which was probably nearly dead when I saw him, might be the explanation for why buzzards were eating a dead skunk in the pasture in front of the house the other day. That was a skunk that I didn't shoot, so I wondered what had killed him in the wide open pasture. I guess it was rabies. I keep the 9422 lever gun above the door in my woodworking shop and the 39A by the back door in the main house, and I'll keep an eye out for other nocturnal critters in the daylight.

And Geez, Maxem....drunk as a skunk...wish I'd said that...

Capt. Charlie · July 23, 2011, 12:56 PM

There can be two manifestations from rabies, a "furious" phase where the animal is highly aggressive, and the "dumb" phase, exhibiting symptoms much like you observed. All rabid animals go through a dumb phase.

For your reading pleasure: http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.net/rabies.php

Quote:

The wobbly steps are a sign of rabies any animal that looks like it had one to many beers..

Not necessarily. Raccoons are susceptible to canine distemper and the symptoms are very similar to those in the rabies dumb phase. Several years ago, we had a rash of sick raccoons. Some were tested, and while there were occurances of rabies, more tested positive for distempter. Either way, the animal is doomed to a nasty death and it's best not to take chances.

http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newslette.../raccoon.shtml

.

bullethole1 · July 23, 2011, 01:26 PM

I shot and killed a racoon like that a few years back. It did seem it had too many bud lights

hogdogs · July 23, 2011, 01:32 PM

I would do the same thing no matter what although gun choice may vary.

Is there any fruit trees with ripe fruit right now?

Brent

Capt. Charlie · July 23, 2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Is there any fruit trees with ripe fruit right now?

In case no one knows what drunk animals look like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5E5TjkDvU0

gio55 · July 25, 2011, 10:29 AM

if it dident spray chances are it is rabid ... skunks spray out of fear most of the times.. but when their rabid their fear instinks are close to nill..

603Country · July 25, 2011, 03:11 PM

This one didn't spray, though I was smart enough (this time) to check wind direction before I cranked off a round his way. In the Spring I shot one due west of the house and he sprayed what looked like a fog bank. Gave it 3 monumental sprays before he checked out. The wind was from the west, and the slight wind just seemed to hold the cloud of spray right on my house. That didn't go well. Note to self.....

tahunua001 · July 25, 2011, 08:01 PM

if you cant find any animal control centers the local fish and game offices usually jump on stuff like that. in montana we had issues with rabid skunks and all the rabies scares were directed at F&G. all they asked was that you avoided shooting them in the head and call them immediately so they could send someone to lop off the head and throw the rest away. I guess you need to test the brains before it starts to decompose. just food for thought if you have another drunk skunk woddle up on you

bamaranger · July 31, 2011, 04:28 AM

If you don't get the critter tested, at least bury it deep, w/o touching the carcass directly.

July 22, 2011, 05:32 PM	#1
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	Lever action on Skunk duty - rabid skunk? While working in the side yard this afternoon, a skunk came staggering out from behind a shed. He'd take 3 wobbly steps and fall, get back up and fall again. I got the 9422 and when he got about 25 feet into the woods, I shot him. He wasn't foaming at the mouth. What are signs that a skunk is rabid? And...the shot was really about 400 yards with a 25 mph crosswind...no it wasn't.

July 22, 2011, 07:01 PM	#3
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	We've recently had three foxes found with rabies .The fox population has been high so maybe mother nature is reducing the population.I expect more problem with other animals too. I too have the attitude to destroy any animal that looks or acts abnormally. And time to educate kids also ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

July 22, 2011, 11:34 PM	#5
m17s_guy Member Join Date: February 1, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 92	best bet is to call animal control to have it tested. it will call attention to the fact that they have a rabies outbreak (if the animal tests positive) and allow them to highten awareness to others in the surrounding area. Rabies this time of year is not really that much of a concern. It happens every year, thousand of recorded cases. You only hear a lot about it when you get a fox running around in a subdivision or something like that. Still, i would call animal control and get mention you believe you saw signs of rabies. They should come out and remove the carcass and test it for free. __________________ if at first you dont succeed, get a bigger hammer!

July 25, 2011, 08:01 PM	#15
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	if you cant find any animal control centers the local fish and game offices usually jump on stuff like that. in montana we had issues with rabid skunks and all the rabies scares were directed at F&G. all they asked was that you avoided shooting them in the head and call them immediately so they could send someone to lop off the head and throw the rest away. I guess you need to test the brains before it starts to decompose. just food for thought if you have another drunk skunk woddle up on you __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

July 31, 2011, 04:28 AM	#16
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	bury it If you don't get the critter tested, at least bury it deep, w/o touching the carcass directly.

July 22, 2011, 06:43 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	For specific signs, you'd probably do better with Google. My rule of thumb about any such critter that acts weirdly, acts out-of-normal pattern, is to do just what you did. End any potential problem.

July 22, 2011, 07:11 PM	#4
BigBadPigg Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 79	The wobbly steps are a sign of rabies any animal that looks like it had one to many beers.. Although it could have just been injured, I suggest not examining it though.

July 23, 2011, 06:06 AM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	My understanding is that the testers want the brain intact, so body shots are to be preferred.

July 23, 2011, 06:14 AM	#7
Maxem0815 Junior member Join Date: May 23, 2011 Posts: 216	Rabid skunk call animal control in your area. We have rabid foxes skunks and the animal control wants them for research not raccoons. or the skunk had a bit to much to drink at the skunk bar ( you know drunk as a skunk) Mace

July 23, 2011, 12:27 PM	#8
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I can't seem to find anyone to contact around here (in central Texas) regarding the rabid skunk, and as for testing the head, that's where I put the first bullet. This skunk, which was probably nearly dead when I saw him, might be the explanation for why buzzards were eating a dead skunk in the pasture in front of the house the other day. That was a skunk that I didn't shoot, so I wondered what had killed him in the wide open pasture. I guess it was rabies. I keep the 9422 lever gun above the door in my woodworking shop and the 39A by the back door in the main house, and I'll keep an eye out for other nocturnal critters in the daylight. And Geez, Maxem....drunk as a skunk...wish I'd said that...

July 23, 2011, 01:26 PM	#10
bullethole1 Junior member Join Date: June 8, 2011 Location: San Antonio , Texas Posts: 253	I shot and killed a racoon like that a few years back. It did seem it had too many bud lights

July 23, 2011, 01:32 PM	#11
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I would do the same thing no matter what although gun choice may vary. Is there any fruit trees with ripe fruit right now? Brent

July 25, 2011, 10:29 AM	#13
gio55 Junior Member Join Date: July 25, 2011 Posts: 4	if it dident spray chances are it is rabid ... skunks spray out of fear most of the times.. but when their rabid their fear instinks are close to nill..

July 25, 2011, 03:11 PM	#14
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	This one didn't spray, though I was smart enough (this time) to check wind direction before I cranked off a round his way. In the Spring I shot one due west of the house and he sprayed what looked like a fog bank. Gave it 3 monumental sprays before he checked out. The wind was from the west, and the slight wind just seemed to hold the cloud of spray right on my house. That didn't go well. Note to self.....