Rabid Deer

[erussell]

Found this article in the paper today. Pretty scary stuff.

Rabid deer in Pa.

It's a stretch, to be sure, but it can happen. I'm talking about contacting rabies from a deer. A dead deer.

A Lancaster County, Pa., hunter has undergone post-exposure rabies shots after killing and field dressing on Jan. 20 in Chester County a deer that ultimately tested positive for rabies.

The hunter said he saw the deer standing in a creek, straining and growling. He thought there was a coyote nearby from the sounds the deer was making.

He killed it, and after field dressing the animal, he contacted a Conservation officer because he thought the meat might be unfit for consumption.

The carcass was tested and it was determined that the deer was rabid. Because the hunter had scratches on his hands and had field dressed the deer without wearing gloves, it was considered a human exposure and the hunter was urged to contact his doctor about post-exposure rabies shots.

Rabies in deer is rare, but the virus can infect virtually any animal. I've heard of a couple of rabid deer in the Southern Tier over the years, and both were only detected because veterinarians encountered them and had them tested.

It is simply common sense that hunters and trappers should avoid killing animals that appear sick and to wear rubber or latex gloves when field dressing any mammal.