Skunk behind barn- alive but won't move

[MossRoad]

Found a skunk behind my barn this afternoon. At first I thought it was dead since it was in an open pasture area and not moving. Then I saw its head bob up and down a few times. That's its only movement-- head bobs up and down once in a while, then head back on the ground and no movement.

I presumed it was rabid, but did a little research and now I am not sure. I'm leery to "let it be" since if it *is* rabid and a coyote gets it tonight, the coyote is presumably rabid. And I read that if I shoot it, blood, etc. can infect other local game (or me) as well.

Apparently pregnant females can forage during the day for food or to feed young ones if they have given birth. So the old advice that any skunk out in daylight "is rabid" is apparently not true.

I have a trap but since it's not moving that's not going to work. So I'm not sure whether to let it be until morning or take care of business now?

Any ideas?

You can't get rabies from the blood.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Had a sick racoon in my back yard; called animal control and the guy came out, picked it up and put it in a cage. I asked him if it had rabies; he said more than likely distemper.

 

[Beltzington]

Sounds like a top 10 country song

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Sounds like a top 10 country song

Not top 10, but close...

 

[plowhog]

Skunk update:

I checked the hill above the area where I killed the (rabid) skunk. It's pretty thick with downed branches and limbs, and in shaded / filtered sunlight from the full tree canopy above.

There is also a skunk aroma. So I suspect this is the location of the den where the skunk I killed originated from. Presuming it was rabid, and with a den so close, is there anything precautionary I should do? Other than keep a .22 handy when in the area?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Skunk update:

I checked the hill above the area where I killed the (rabid) skunk. It's pretty thick with downed branches and limbs, and in shaded / filtered sunlight from the full tree canopy above.

There is also a skunk aroma. So I suspect this is the location of the den where the skunk I killed originated from. Presuming it was rabid, and with a den so close, is there anything precautionary I should do? Other than keep a .22 handy when in the area?

You might notify the county or state health department. It can't hurt, and they might be able to do something.

 

[Jstpssng]

You can't get rabies from the blood.

I didn't realize that, it's a good thing to know. When I killed the skunk in my turkey pen I took my 100K BTU propane burner and burned all of the blood.

 

[MossRoad]

Skunk update:

I checked the hill above the area where I killed the (rabid) skunk. It's pretty thick with downed branches and limbs, and in shaded / filtered sunlight from the full tree canopy above.

There is also a skunk aroma. So I suspect this is the location of the den where the skunk I killed originated from. Presuming it was rabid, and with a den so close, is there anything precautionary I should do? Other than keep a .22 handy when in the area?

Nope. Just be on the lookout for more of them.

 

[forgeblast]

I had one like that, I threw it in the burn pit and incinerated it. Guess what the smoke smelled like :0 Next time Ill dig a deep hole.

 

[dodge man]

I shot a skunk near my house one time and it turned out it had babies. I could hear them crying afterwards. I felt a little bad but it just cost me a few more shotgun shells to take care of the problem.