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Alicia Leonard

SoWal Insider
*Rabies Alert for Grayton Beach*

* *

*Walton** County – *Walton County Health Department Administrator, Gail
Allen, has issued a rabies alert for the Grayton Beach area of Walton
County. This is in response to a fox that tested positive for rabies
reported on May 23, 2011.



All citizens in Walton County should be aware that rabies is present in the
wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated.
The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active
in Walton County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public,
but they should not give a false sense of security to areas that have not
been named as under alert.



The recent rabies alert is for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is at
Grayton Beach and includes the following area boundaries in Walton County:



· Gulf Trace to the West

· Tranquil Way to the East

· Gulf of Mexico to the South

· Logan Lane to the North



An animal with rabies could infect other wild animals or domestic animals
that have not been vaccinated against rabies. All domestic animals should be
vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be avoided,
particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.



Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm blooded
animals and humans. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is
rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate
treatment started soon after the exposure, will protect an exposed person
 

30A Skunkape

Skunky
Jan 18, 2006
10,314
2,349
55
Backatown Seagrove
I'm concerned because the fox that tested positive was captured very close to Borago. Borago's dumpster harbors quite a few feral cats and is a regular plunder spot for our black bears (last known bear dumpster dive was 5-20-11). Lots and lots of racoons, rats, etc back there. If anyone sees an animal acting in an odd fashion (good rule of thumb-animals with 'fangs' harbor rabies) call the cops so it can be destroyed and tested. Additionally, if an unsupervised child is seen anywhere in the vicinity of an odd acting animal and the kid is not old enough to reliably tell you whether or not they came in contact, GO TO THE ER ASAP! Rabies is FATAL if not treated, but is easily treatable if caught early enough.
 

bluemtnrunner

Beach Fanatic
Dec 31, 2007
1,486
144
I've been concerned about a raccoon that has been hanging out in our tree, yard and garbage can during the day. He will just stare me down, climb a tree and wait for me to turn his back before jumping into the garbage. After he finds it empty he heads down the road to the neighbor's house. Thoughts?
 

Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,039
1,984
His brother is at my house. Not sick, just nervy, and found an easy way to eat. Put your garbage can in the garage or someplace he can't get to it. If he was sick (and most likely distemper), he wouldn't care if you were standing right there and he would be acting disoriented and odd.
 

jodiFL

Beach Fanatic
Jul 28, 2007
2,469
744
SOWAL,FL
I would be wary of any raccoon right now as it was a rabid population of them that wiped out a pretty good size population of foxes years ago. Was glad to see foxes around here again but I am sad they might go away for the same reason as before. Hopefully it wont get as bad and they wont be chasing bicycles thru Seaside again.
 

LuciferSam

Banned
Apr 26, 2008
4,749
1,069
Sowal
I've been concerned about a raccoon that has been hanging out in our tree, yard and garbage can during the day. He will just stare me down, climb a tree and wait for me to turn his back before jumping into the garbage. After he finds it empty he heads down the road to the neighbor's house. Thoughts?

I'd be wary of raccoons no matter what. They are nasty, they'll get in your attic and pee, and if that's not enough, they may carry a parasitic worm that will eat holes in your brain.
 

NotDeadYet

Beach Fanatic
Jul 7, 2007
1,416
489
Frank's in Grayton has some raccoon proff trash cans. I don't have a garage, and the coons were into my trash every night until I got these cans. They really do work.
 
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