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Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host #7263715
05/13/21 05:55 PM
05/13/21 05:55 PM
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Georgia
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GaTurkeyHunter Offline OP
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Last night/this morning a skunk somehow found a way to push some stuff over and get pinned and die near one of my outdoor buildings. I woke up around 3 am to a definite skunk smell, but figured one stunk up the woods near the house, which happens several times a year.

I found the skunk this morning at 5:30 when I took my dogs out and removed him about 30 minutes ago. I wore thick nitrile gloves and put rubber gauntlets over them. Didn't want to get any stink on my arms. I dragged him out with a tater rake and used that to drag him into a pit in my woods.

By the time I removed the skunk I figured 10-12 hours have easily passed. The skunk was probably sitting in the sun for a solid 6 plus hours. Temps this morning were in the low 40's with this afternoon reaching into the low to mid 70s.

This process had me thinking about how long could the rabies virus survive in a dead animal? For instance, if my dog found the skunk before me or I handled the animal without gloves, would we still be at risk for catching the virus?



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Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263721
05/13/21 06:02 PM
05/13/21 06:02 PM
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Three Lakes,WI 72
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corky Offline
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Looks like 24 hours at 70 degrees:

https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF962.pdf

Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263722
05/13/21 06:02 PM
05/13/21 06:02 PM
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Georgia
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I've always heard not past room temperature but thats not a definite number.


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Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: corky] #7263771
05/13/21 07:22 PM
05/13/21 07:22 PM
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GaTurkeyHunter Offline OP
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Originally Posted by corky
Looks like 24 hours at 70 degrees:

https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF962.pdf


Would that be the virus in the brain and spinal fluid? Or does that also mean any virus on their paws and mouth too? I would think that once the saliva on the mouth and paws have dried, woukd the virus be dead?



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Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263774
05/13/21 07:25 PM
05/13/21 07:25 PM
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DaveP Offline
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I thought some research out of mass a few years back indicated it could survive freezing.

Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263776
05/13/21 07:33 PM
05/13/21 07:33 PM
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Northof50 Offline
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Freezing for extended periods is a well known fact
saliva on dog dishes = a week
sick skunks always go to the dishes for water and dog food, then the dogs come and lick their bowls like crazy= territorial behaviour of the dog
Javex bleach diluted and sprayed the area.

Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263801
05/13/21 08:18 PM
05/13/21 08:18 PM
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UV rays and dehydration will kill the virus quickly freezing will preserve it longer, it lives in the brain and brain stem in the body if you wore gloves and did not touch the mouth with a open wound your chances are minimal.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263818
05/13/21 08:57 PM
05/13/21 08:57 PM
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GaTurkeyHunter Offline OP
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Should I be worried about coming in contact with anything or having any saliva flick up on me and landing on my skin while I was dragging the skunk off?



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Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263833
05/13/21 09:20 PM
05/13/21 09:20 PM
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Central, SD
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Unless you got a poke from a fang I would not worry much.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263872
05/13/21 10:57 PM
05/13/21 10:57 PM
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Originally Posted by GaTurkeyHunter
Should I be worried about coming in contact with anything or having any saliva flick up on me and landing on my skin while I was dragging the skunk off?


Only two known cases of aerosol transmission. Both of those were spelunkers in a cave with a large bat colony.


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Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: DaveP] #7263917
05/13/21 11:57 PM
05/13/21 11:57 PM
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Originally Posted by DaveP
I thought some research out of mass a few years back indicated it could survive freezing.

Absolutely.
If bitten or saliva or blood enters your body by a critter lets say skunk in this case you should at least keep it cool if you can't get the animal tested immediately.
I leaned learned the hard way, got bit by a gray on a sat (4' catch pole) had to keep on ice until Monday when the state lab opened up. In the meantime I went to a hospital and they would not treat for rabies unless a + test came back. They did give 4 shots which included tetanus. Another reason I carry water, I washed the bite immediately.
Now I'm extra cautious especially when skinning, nitrile gloves long sleeves (for scratches on arms), apron, Clorox. I've even gone to using a utility knife and or scalpels.

Re: Rabies--How Long Can It Survive in Dead Host [Re: GaTurkeyHunter] #7263919
05/14/21 12:08 AM
05/14/21 12:08 AM
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Champaign County, Ohio.
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KeithC Offline
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Do any of you know of any other trappers who have contracted rabies from handling, skinning or fleshing an infected animal?

Keith

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