Atlanta Wildlife and Animal Removal

All Skunks are not Rabid

Atlanta skunks are easy to identify with their characteristic black and white coat and their signature scent. It is a fallacythat allskunks are rabid so do not fret if you spot them in your backyard. Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system in mammals. It is transmitted through the saliva a few days before death when the animal ‘sheds’ the virus. Skunks can only transmit the virus to another mammal if they are rabid. The mode of rabies transmission is through saliva; when a rabid skunk bites another Georgia animal. Rabies is therefore neither transmitted through urine, feaces or even through the spray even if the skunk is rabid nor is it airborne through the open environment.



Most wild Georgia animals also stay clear of skunks to avoid being sprayed in the eyes, so it is also highly unlikely that a skunk will get bitten by rabid animal. Another common misconception is that skunks carry rabies up to two years. Well, this is subject to debate because the window period of rabies is a week before clinical signs of rabies are manifested. Skunks can contract the virus but not show any symptoms for up to six months however an infected Atlanta skunk cannot spread rabies unless the diseases is active and the symptoms are visible.

In addition to that, it is highly unlikely that animal rehabilitators release rabies-infested orphan skunks. This is because in the period it takes to rehabilitate baby Atlanta skunks which is mostly four to five months is enough time for any rabid skunk to receive the necessary treatment or be dead already. Any skunks due for release into the wild undergo rigorous tests and observations in a bid to ensure that they are not rabid.

Run-away domesticated skunks are also unlikely to spread rabies to the wild Georgia skunk populations. In fact, they are rabies free because of breeding and inoculation with the rabies vaccine making them very healthy in comparison to the wild Georgia skunks. Skunks are not to blame for rabies infections in people or pets. Rabid bites are fatal but rabid related deaths are rare. In fact most cases of rabies in humans are from other animals such as rabid dogs or bat bites. However, always avoid wild animals that seam quite unperturbed by your presence, mangy, aggressive or sickly as these are common symptoms of rabid infection. Atlanta skunks are easy to identify with their characteristic black and white coat and their signature scent. It is a fallacythat allskunks are rabid so do not fret if you spot them in your backyard. Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system in mammals. It is transmitted through the saliva a few days before death when the animal ‘sheds’ the virus. Georgia skunks can only transmit the virus to another mammal if they are rabid. The mode of rabies transmission is through saliva; when a rabid skunk bites another animal. Rabies is therefore neither transmitted through urine, feaces or even through the spray even if the skunk is rabid nor is it airborne through the open environment.

Most wild Georgia animals also stay clear of skunks to avoid being sprayed in the eyes, so it is also highly unlikely that a skunk will get bitten by rabid animal. Another common misconception is that skunks carry rabies up to two years. Well, this is subject to debate because the window period of rabies is a week before clinical signs of rabies are manifested. Skunks can contract the virus but not show any symptoms for up to six months however an infected Atlanta skunk cannot spread rabies unless the diseases is active and the symptoms are visible.

In addition to that, it is highly unlikely that Atlanta animal rehabilitators release rabies-infested orphan skunks. This is because in the period it takes to rehabilitate baby skunks which is mostly four to five months is enough time for any rabid skunk to receive the necessary treatment or be dead already. Any skunks due for release into the wild undergo rigorous tests and observations in a bid to ensure that they are not rabid. Run-away domesticated skunks are also unlikely to spread rabies to the wild skunk populations. In fact, they are rabies free because of breeding and inoculation with the rabies vaccine making them very healthy in comparison to the wild skunks.

Atlanta skunks are not to blame for rabies infections in people or pets. Rabid bites are fatal but rabid related deaths are rare. In fact most cases of rabies in humans are from other animals such as rabid dogs or bat bites. However, always avoid wild animals that seam quite unperturbed by your presence, mangy, aggressive or sickly as these are common symptoms of rabid infection.

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