
Bowmanville Wildlife: Skunks and Rabies
In an ideal world, human beings and wild animals coexist in harmony. Unfortunately, this world is a lot less than ideal and while incident free interactions between people and wildlife is desirable, we must acknowledge roadblocks in the form of the dangers wild animals pose to people. One such danger is the contraction of diseases.
Rabies Carriers. It's often believed that skunks all carryrabies, but this isn't true. Just like you or any other animal, a skunk has to be infected with rabies by being bitten byrabid animal
Rabies is a disease that brings with it numerous uncomfortable symptoms, and in extreme cases where treatment is not received could result in death. It is also a disease that can spread to humans from wildlife animals like skunks. Other diseases carried by skunks include Leptospirosis, Listeriosis, and Tularemia. Some of these are even more detrimental to human health than rabies. A rogue skunk or two on your property, bad smell aside, is clearly not a good thing. Thankfully though, wild animals tend to stay away from people and vice versa.
But remain careful! The idea that you do not encounter wild animals or physically interact with them may provide you and your family with a false sense of security. Many people do not contract rabies directly from wild animals but rather from a secondary source, such as a pet that interacted with an infected wild animal. Dogs are common middlemen for rabies because they love to chase furry little critters.