Keep Yourself Safe From Wildlife

Rabies is a preventable viral disease, transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Most bites occur in wild animals, including raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Once transmitted, the rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. Symptoms of rabies are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness. However, as the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear. These include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, increase in saliva, and difficulty in swallowing. Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.

Canine or Feline Distemper, or simply “distemper,” is commonly used to refer to two diseases. These diseases can affect dogs and cats, along with many wildlife nuisance species, including raccoons, foxes, and coyotes. Unfortunately, the symptoms can be confused with rabies. Canine distemper is characterized mostly by respiratory and / or neurological symptoms. Feline distemper symptoms are usually related to diarrhea and anemia. Fortunately, diarrhea or anemia disease has been shown to cause illness in people, but almost always proves to be fatal for the animal.

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus, often found in bird and bat droppings. It is most commonly transmitted when these spores become airborne. Several types of histoplasmosis exist. The mildest form produces no signs or symptoms. Most people don’t know they are infected. However, severe infections can be life-threatening, especially for infants and people with weak immune systems. Symptoms usually appear anywhere from a couple of days up to three weeks after exposure, and usually include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a dry cough or chest discomfort. Fortunately, effective treatments are available for even the most severe forms of histoplasmosis.