|
RTS for Thursday
MORE RABIES: Previously, we “outed” raccoons as the Pennsylvania animal most likely to carry rabies.
Today, we look at some other animals on that list, based on a a 2006 online report by Thomas Wampler of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
The oft-maligned bat did nothing for its image by making the list. The report notes the first bat documented with rabies in Pennsylvania was reported in 1953. Since then, seven of the nine species of bats found in the state had rabies, mostly big brown bats. Other positives included a little brown bat, a northern long-eared bat, an eastern red bat and an eastern pipistrelle.
Only a small percentage of bats, though, were rabies carriers.
Nevertheless, the report warns, there’s no taking chances with those noctural creatures since rabid bats have been encountered in Pennsylvania every year since 1961.
RTS readers have written us about their close encounters with bats. The report notes that these unwelcome visitors are the primary reason that indoor cats and dogs should be vaccinated against rabies.
Rodents rarely test positive, the report says. “As prey species, most rodents flee at the first sign of danger or are killed during the initial attack by a predator. Groundhogs are an exception, however, and will often stand their ground and fight if threatened too far from a safe burrow.”
Six groundhogs were positive last year, and rabid groundhogs have been reported every year in the state for close to thirty years.
Rabies, the report notes, has never been recorded in mice, voles, chipmunks or other small rodents in Pennsylvania, excluding one rat in 1945. The first muskrat was also reported that year, and another just recently.
“Seven squirrels have been positive in Pennsylvania during the past four decades. Three beavers, Pennsylvania’s largest rodent, have also been reported positive for rabies, the latest in 2001.
“Four Pennsylvania whitetail deer were positive last year, bringing the statewide total of rabid deer to 24 since 1951, 10 of those in the last three years.
“Two otters and nine bobcats have tested positive, including one bobcat each year for the last four years. The first confirmed case of rabies in a black bear occurred three years ago in Centre County.
“Only five opossums have ever been confirmed positive, all from 1983 to 1985. Rabies has never been diagnosed in Pennsylvania’s wild rabbits or other small terrestrial mammals such as shrews and moles.”
 printer friendly version
 e-mail this story
Reader Comments
There are No comments posted. comments to this story.
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bradfordera.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
|
