Rabid skunks reported; pet owners beware

From Staff Reports

May 22, 2003 -- Skunks are notorious carriers of rabies, and as of mid-May, 37 rabid skunks have been reported in East Texas this year, cited Texas Department of Health's Dr. James Wright, veterinarian with the zoonosis division.

"In addition, one horse has died of rabies after being bitten by a rabid skunk this year," he said.

Last year, there were 104 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in East Texas. It appears that the total cases will be about the same in 2003.

Some of the recent incidents were reported from Van Zandt, Wood, and Nacogdoches counties.

On May 12, a homeowner who lives west of Canton reported a skunk attacked her pets. First attacking her cat, the skunk then mauled her puppy, then the cat's kittens. "For 30 minutes the lady watched the skunk run back and forth between the puppy and the cats," Wright said. Finally, a friend arrived and shot the skunk.

Due to severe injuries from the skunk attack, the puppy also had to be destroyed. The mother cat was also injured, and because of their exposure to the rabid skunk, the owner elected to humanely destroy them all, Wright reported. The cat had been a stray, and no information about prior vaccination was known.

"In recent years in the United States, there have been more than twice as many rabid cats as rabid dogs," Wright added. "That is why it is so important to vaccinate cats as well as dogs."

Another case was recently reported in Van Zandt County. On May 5, a homeowner who lives four miles south of Ben Wheeler found a skunk fighting with her dog. The dog killed the skunk. It tested positive for rabies.

On May 2 in Nacogdoches County, a homeowner who lives 11 miles north of Nacogdoches on Highway 259 saw a skunk wandering around his pastures and barns at noon time. The skunk was shot and killed. It tested positive for rabies.

"This is the sixth rabid skunk submitted to the Texas Department of Health laboratory from Nacogdoches County in 2003," Wright added. "Prior to 2003, there had not been a rabid skunk reported in the county in more than 10 years."

On April 28 in Wood County, a homeowner who lives south of Yantis reported she saw a skunk chasing her chickens around noon time. Then, her dogs started chasing the skunk. The owner called the sheriff's department; an officer shot and killed the skunk. It tested positive for rabies.

"The chickens would not have been at risk of catching rabies because the disease only affects mammals," Wright said. "However, the dogs that came to the rescue of the chickens were dealing with a disease that could be fatal to them."