Rabies

If you’ve been here for a while or caught up on some of my other posts, you know that I bring up rabies a lot when I talk about animals. But what is rabies? I know that for those unfamiliar with animals in general, this may be a very valid question, so let's educate each other! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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So what is rabies? Rabies is a deadly virus that bites or stings from animals can spread because it gets transferred through the animal's saliva. The most common carriers of rabies in the United States are dogs, bats, coyotes, foxes, skunks, and raccoons. This being said, in Wisconsin, cases typically come from only bats and skunks. Once someone is infected with rabies, the virus targets the central nervous system, eventually making its way to the brain. This can result in other diseases and death. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

As a wildlife rehabber, rabies is a disease that we’re always looking out for, not only for our own safety but also for the animals' safety in our care and over all the animals in Wisconsin.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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If you think you have come in contact or have seen an animal showing any of the symptoms above, please contact the DNR right away for the next steps. Rabies is a severe disease, and those working at the DNR are trained and have all the right equipment needed to deal with situations such as this.