I found a raccoon dead on the side of the highway and it is in pretty good condition. Do you think there is a chance of it having rabies? Are there any steps to take to check it to make sure? If it had rabies, would the mounter be at risk? Thanks
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
Should be OK, wear your rubber gloves and jump in.Dont know if there is any way to tell for sure.
I believe the only way to tell if it has rabies would be to cut the head off freeze it and send it to a university where they will do tests. they need the head , brain cavity intact. As a kid I was bit by a woodchuck we had as a pet. it was killed and the above done to it. it was sent to MSU Minnesota state University. Came back negative which was good so I could go to the dentist. He wouldn't see me until my results came back. Sort of a funny story but true.
Even if it does have rabies. Doesn't it's saliva have to enter your body through an open wound? Like a bite, paper cut, etc... I think there is a very very slim chance, even if it has rabies, that you will catch this virus if your skinning it with deer guttin' gloves. Those are the ones that go all the way up to your shoulders.
I know someone will post this but rabies isn't a virus. Sorry. I also found this on a different sight.
Diseases:
In North America, raccoons are carriers of three common wildlife diseases: rabies, distemper and mange. Animals with these diseases may exhibit symptoms like staggering and falling over, loss of fear of humans or pets, weight loss, and poor coat condition. Diseased animals may also appear disoriented, have paralyzed hind limbs, and have mucus caked around the eyes and nose. Raccoons can also carry other diseases and parasites that can be infectious to other species of wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. These include parvovirus, leptospirosis, and Baylisascaris procyonis.
Rabies and distemper are both viral diseases. Rabies can be transmitted to non-immunized humans, livestock and pets, usually by exposure to saliva of an infected animal. Distemper is a major viral disease in raccoons but cannot be transmitted to humans or immunized pets. Transmission of distemper occurs through contact with the excretions or secretions of infected animals. Mange is not as common as distemper or rabies in raccoons across North America. Mange is caused by a mite and can be transmitted to humans and pets. Symptoms include an itching red rash. Parvovirus can be transmitted to non-immunized pets. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected water, blood or urine. Approximately 80 per cent of raccoons in Ontario are infected with the roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis. This parasite is found in raccoon faeces and can be fatal to humans.
Didn't read all the way through, I guess rabies is a virus. I guess I'm a little slow today.