Paul,
Of course I am painfully aware you are more likely to die from any number of ridiculous things, slipping in the tub, falling off a ladder (theres a joke in there) and of course someone texting their way into your lane and killing you with their vehicle.
I guess for me the question would be, if I can prevent the one, but the other is more likely an accident that while I can minimize risk to is simply more prone to happen, why would I want to go from the one I can prevent with gloves, respirator, simple tyvek and other ppe?
I'm saying this in a lighthearted tone to you because I know that I've had the same discussions with other "old timers" in my outfit, many of which grew up on a ranch in the middle of nowhere and the idea some wildlife related or animal related disease could kill them is something that makes most of them chuckle!
However, again, just my job to say why go that way?
I am much like you even though I only just turned 40, I grew up in rural upstate NY in farm country and guess what I even drank out of the pond on occasion when the day was long and hot and long before I knew what giardia was. I cleaned the chicken coop without a respirator (histoplasmosis yay!) and I trapped, skinned, gutted, hunted and did all kinds of things that normal farm kids do.
Is my immune system stronger? The question is stronger than whose? My wife can get food poisoning from walking by a bad restaurant, I am more the billy goat type when it comes to food and we used to joke that I could likely eat a dog turd from the yard and not get sick but her picking one up with a glove on she'd still contract something. Unfortunately in her case, her immune system is bad and that has plagued her and us for the last 6 years following years and years of wildlife disease and field research for the govt.
I know the one thing that moves folks like yourself is your kids and their kids and their kids. If I was a salesman selling PPE products I'd do it by creating an emotional moment to show the stubborn folks that this isn't about them, that buying gloves is about little timmy and sally!
I should also have put this in the upper part of my first thread, but knowing wildlife disease means I talk about it with my clients and colleagues in a way that isn't meant to be a scare tactic, but rather an education to keep them on the right track.
Can you clean up mouse droppings in your cabin in the spring in NM without a respirator or watering the floor and surfaces down with mist?
Yes you can, but can you also contract Hanta? Yes you can!
I guess I posted because I've been watching the last few months the mentions of sick raccoons, and other wildlife and seeing the responses falling often into the category of speculation, not education or experience.
What I enjoy is the ability to communicate some of what I've learned as any of us hope to do, in the hope that it will help someone.
I do often take an adversarial tone with others in the forum, much because I don't want folks especially in regard to wildlife disease, to be putting the wrong information out there.
While there is a vast amount of info not known, we know tons of information, but it is often buried in places you can't readily access and many don't have time or inclination.
It was my job, so I had an incentive and it was something I loved and continue to love to discuss and research, so I continue.
Okay, thats the end of my good natured rant!
Paul knows I appreciate his comments and they only allow me to further the issue with you folks.
Warrior - David - Makes a great point as well about where you live and the resources you have or don't have. In a similar instance this last summer I had a client who was bitten by a diamondback rattlesnake. Now I always figured here in NM where we have 37+ species of snake and 7+ are venomous that the folks at the hospital would know what to do instantly when you come in?
Guess what? She was told they only had 1 snake bite case in the last 6 years, so no one on staff knew what to do instantly. Furthermore, they made her wait 2 hours for anti-venom as the policy of the pharmacy within the hospital is that until they know you are in the room, even if you call ahead (she did) they don't get it to the ER!
Now this client was an educated healthcare professional nearing retirement and because she faced this situation, I now know that calling the Denver poison control center for info is superior to asking anyone in my own state!
That case taught me a lot and I always look to learn more.
I guess my point with the other things is that why not treat each animal like it could have something to pass to you. As Eric said, does it matter whether the prevalence of roundworm is 20% or 100%?
Since you can't tell by looking at the animal, you could have the 20% in your hand and not know it, or part of the healthy 80%?
I like others enjoy the devils advocate spot, but I hope that this is actually some good talking points for some folks. When the public asks me I am balanced in my discussion with them and I make sure they know I know that of which I speak.
As they say in media training - "stay in your lane"
I live in my lane, this is my life, this is my profession and I love what I do and the people I get to work for too!
(I always appreciate a good debate and as long as something is coming of it, great, whether your view is all critters are diseased, or that you'll likely die from something else, I'll still try to put good info out there for you or anyone else because it is what I do.)
Best to all!
Justin