So today I was hunting for sheds in my local woods and got chased a good two hundred feet by a rabid racoon ( btw they are fast ). My salvation was car door was unlocked and open so I jumped in and then chased it away from my property. Any of you guy's had anything like this happen?
If it was chasing you, chances are it ain't rabid. Every rabid animal I've ever encountered has been slow, placid & acting very confused. Usually just standing in one spot bobbing their heads or pacing in circles.
Well, I can't think of another reason for it to be foaming at the mouth.. the other racoon was very placid. exactly like you described above. I did some reading and found that occasionally rabid animals can be very aggresive though.
wikipedia say's that the agression is the beginning stages and that the paralytic "dumb" rabies is the final stages
:scared: :scared: :scared:
report it to your DNR
I have not had the pleasure you described. I think I will pass if given the choice.
Glad you weren't hurt in any way.
ChuckC
It would be a good idea to report it to your local health department, as well.
I had one come at me once. It was in the spring though and she had 5 little ones with her. Most scared I've ever been while hunting!
As a kid a raccoon ran me up a step creek bank I caught it with a big stick DOA right there about 12" and and half second away from bitting me. That is enough to get your heart pumping I can promise you ;)
That sounds worth the effort of digging a deep, cold hole!
Glad you got away from it.
Dang, glad you were able to get away from it. I have never had something like that happen and I don't ever want to!!!
Very odd, normally rabies does not present itself in winter. Best report it.
Exactly the reason I ALWAYS carry some sort of weapon with me to the woods...
Glad to hear that you were able to E & E (escape & evade)!!!
Rodd
I always carry a sidearm when wandering the woods for that very reason.
Ditto on the sidearm.
The land owner of the property that I hunt on was attacked by a rabid fox it came after him twice both times he had to hit it with his chicken feed bucket he finally went in the house to get his gun to kill it. After shooting it he called the state they told him that at any given time 5% of the fox population is rabid.
Danny -
Maryland already has 17 confirmed cases of rabies in raccoons since January 1, even one in Baltimore city.
Iv' encountered two rabid raccoons in my life. One was wandering a creek side in the middle of the day. The other was a young raccoon which was spotted a few days before by the Mrs. It was curled up on our welcome mat on the front porch. I managed to carefully trap it in a box cage. I observed it until evening to make sure it was indeed rabid. I researched rabies and it's symptoms and determined that it was rabid. It had been chewing its feet badly but was not foaming from the mouth that I recall. When it started crying I resolved to do what I had to do. Being that the disease affects the brain, the behavior of the animal can vary.
Report it to the anti trapping and hunting groups!! :D
I don't have a lot of experience with rabies, but one of the few wild animals to ever come for me, unprovoked, was a large, boar raccoon--and it was just this time of year, about five years ago, on my farm in Northern New York.
In my case, I believe it had something to do with aggression during mating season. The raccoon that "advanced" on me, (and was shot in the head with a .22LR for his trouble), was suffering from several wounds caused, I am pretty sure, by another large, boar raccoon. I don't know if "my" raccoon was the winner, or the loser, but he was hurt--and pretty cranky.
I was on my way to a shed for a load of firewood, late in the evening, before I turned in. It was snowing pretty hard, but there were very fresh tracks--and a little blood--preceeding me into the building. I got one of those "funny little feelings", and went back for the Marlin lever-action I kept beside the kitchen door. When I had to use it, a few minutes later, I was at the back of the shed. That large raccoon popped up between me and an open door. He could have gone either way, but he chose to come for me. It was weird.
Glad you got away safely. Sounds like a terrible experience.
Luckily no personal encounters but a local kid at a bus stop got hit by a rabid coyote a year or two ago. Thankfully an adult saw it and fought it off. It was killed and tested positive for rabies. Both the kid and the rescuer were treated for exposure. But thankfully came away with nothing permanent.
had it happen with several skunks in my job, it would be early stage if rabies, skunks were all put down, if you are taking a sample or getting some one too, don't shoot in the head! an be very careful, gloves, etc.
It even happened with a bear up here a few years ago.
all were confirmed cases and showed aggression.
dang I wouldn't want to see a aggressive rabid bear. Sounds like a nightmare
What county in Maryland did this happen?
Caroline
I bet that Grizzly that charged me in Wyoming last fall had rabies
Just a heads up ANY bodily fluids from an infected animal can(and does) carry the live virus (even urine) :scared:
If I wet MYSELF during one of these episodes, does that count ?
ChuckC
Ive had a handful of raccoons come after me while I was working. Usually cause I was called to look for them 1st, and the times that they did come after me I attribute to distemper. Cant be sure if its distemper or rabies but it is damn scary and usually gets them put down in a hurry.
The meanest one Ive ever dealt with was last month and it appeared to be a healthy sow. She had a serious attitude and lucky for her and I, I was called away for more pressing matters before a winner was determined.
Years ago I had a run-in with a raccoon that was acting as the aggressor. I don't know if it was rabid, stupid or just really really curious, but it wouldn't leave me alone until I hit it squarely in the neck with with a baseball-sized rock.
Anyway, rabies is serious business! I was listening to a RadioLab show on NPR yesterday and they said it was THE deadliest disease. If not treated before the virus enters the brain, the death rate is about 100%. Yikes! :scared:
I came home from a workout one evening, and a raccoon was under the carport. Ordinarily, they immediately run when the truck pulls into the driveway, but this guy stood his ground. I threw a training bag, which hit him. He still stood his ground, so I threw a pint can of paint thinner. That one also hit him with no visible effect.
This was all VERY disturbing, so I called my wife to bring my .45 auto. However, the ricochet off the concrete carport floor would go through the side of the house, so I held fire, knowing my wife's anger would be far more dangerous than this animal. He finally ran around the house to the woods and did not return.
Animal Control told me that 7 rabid animals had been destroyed in town during the year. That is a lot for a town as small as Gray. I am now with those guys who always carry a firearm, even when bowhunting.
QuoteOriginally posted by T Callahan:
... the agression is the beginning stages and that the paralytic "dumb" rabies is the final stages
I had a girlfriend that matched the first description...
Good one jhg! :laughing: :laughing:
^^ Hahaha!!!
This IS breeding season for raccoons, and other critters too.
They can be some Ornery Little Critters, and when they get Funky, they get 4X Bigger!! Not only would I wet meself, I just might be "Sliding in my own Sh_t" trying to get away!! :scared: :rolleyes: :biglaugh:
Nothing 12g won't fix, just dig good hole and take couple gallons of diesel and burn carcass in hole. Otherwise fox's and yotes will dig it up and eat it then you'll have whole pack chasin you next time.
Cujo the raccoon?