POSITIVE SKUNK

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY

 

 

On Monday, 4 December, a skunk was observed walking around the parking lot of a Dialysis Center in Nacogdoches.  When it went around to the back of the store, shoppers that were watching it ran to their cars and took off.   Nobody called animal control. 

 

The next morning a skunk (presumably the same one) was observed wandering in the parking lot again.  Of course, everybody gave it plenty of room to wander.  It made its way to the Wal-Mart store next to the Dialysis Center and was strolling through the plant nursery section of the store.  Store officials immediately evacuated the nursery.  They also called the Nacogdoches animal control office. Someone kept an eye on the skunk until the animal control officer arrived.  A police officer killed the skunk and the animal control officer took the skunk to be submitted for rabies testing.   The skunk was positive for rabies.

 

This incident again underscores that in East Texas, folks may encounter a rabid skunk nearly anywhere.  It also illustrates the fact that a rabid skunk will often lose its fear of people and animals.  Indeed, a skunk will come into a parking lot crowded with Christmas shoppers and it will walk in to a yard with a dog.  In either case, the skunk usually ends up dead.  However, in the case of its going in to a yard with a dog, it may bite the dog and expose it to rabies before it is killed or gets away.  That is why it is so important to keep pets (including cats) currently vaccinated rabies.

 

The Nacogdoches Health inspector, who also manages the Animal Control Program, spoke with Tyler television reporters to explain the incident and to emphasize the importance of rabies vaccinations for pets.