Had a very scary encounter today. Always be prepared.

Mulefun said:
At least it was not a HONEY BADGER.
Click to expand...
That reminds me of a run in I had....... It was in Henderson on the outskirts of the Las Vegas area-my house was up against a mountain. I was taking my wolfdogs(that I had at the time) out and right before they jumped in the truck they noticed something in the corner of my garage under the garage cabinets. It started hissing real loud! I couldn't see it yet but the noises it made were enough for me to instantly go into protection mode. I got the wolfdogs into the truck and as I was thinking about something attacking my legs under the truck I slowly bent down to see what was in the garage.............much more ferocious than a raccoon......A BADGER!! I don't know if was a honey badger but it was mean looking--those big teeth and claws! That thing would have torn my wolfdogs to pieces. I wasn't sure what it was at first- It had strips on it's face going back to it's body, actually really cool markings. My x wife looked it up and ID'd it as a badger but I think she also read that they are not normally found out here in the desert. (she thought it was so cute and threw a piece of chocolate at it-that pissed it off more) That left us wondering what it was doing where it was. Well, I have video of the incident and the badger hissing and showing it's teeth-wicked! I used the infamous broom to get him out of the garage finally. I just kinda poked him out from under the cabinets and he crawled back out into the desert wilderness. Didn't cross my mind to kill it- fury critters have to be at least the size of a wolf or bigger for me to consider killing it in self defense. Does anyone know for sure if badgers live here in Nevada?
 
My son got bitten by a stray cat last year. We found the cat, captured it (NOT easy) and sent it off for "testing," which apparently involves examining the brain, and it was negative for rabies, thank God. We had told our kids not to pick up or pet strays or unknown animals, but someone thought they knew better.
 
Most nights its not uncommon for me to 2-4 sets of racoon eyeballs reflecting back at me from the other side of the fence (within about ~50 ft) when I let the pooch out (he's been vaccinated). While it's not my idea of ideal, I have yet to see one in my back yard, tho I've seen one on out front, along with probably 50 deer over the years. I've talked with animal control and there very few documented cases of rabies in my area. That being said, I still respect that they are very tough little animal well equipped with sharp teeth and claws. I've seen an injured one (IIRC it had been hit by a car and needed to be put down) take a 12 gauge to the chest to be dispatched. It did NOT die instantly. Also vividly recall being at outdoor camp as a kid with an animal handler showing a racoon...I guess that day he didn't want to be part of the show and reminded her he wasn't a lost kitten. I've heard that if they get a dog near water they will drown it by climbing on its head and holding it under water (in addition to the slashing and biting).

I can understand your concern on the rabis thing, I'm no expert, but I think you have to touch saliva or blood/organs, etc. Not sure if a wet nose would be enough. Not something I would deliberately screw with tho either. The virus does die rather rapidly once the animal dies tho.

That being said, had it been me, I'd probably have tried to scoot it off the porch with a broom or something and if it went in the woods, I'd probably have let it go. I doubt I would have stoned it for being a curious critter...but that's just me. Now take that same scenario and make it a rattler or something, yes, for the safety of friends and family, I'd probably have to dispatch it. Not something I would want to do, but a risk I couldn't take considering the area (which fortunately doesn't have too many venomous critters). Tho the grandparents have rattlers on their property once in a blue moon, and yes, it will be a dead snake unfortunately.

You were lucky it wasn't a criminal looking for an easy mark, I am sure that 0560 on your lap would have been in his hand before you woke up, bad juju. However, there's probably only been about 10 zillion people who've taken a nap on their porch, hammock, or where ever. Unless you live in an high rate crime area, you're probably going to be ok. The other side of the coin is you can never be too careful, and situational awareness is a good thing to have. But it makes it very difficult to take a 'tactical' nap.

And FWIW, you think racoons act oblivious, try elk. I've had occasion where I've tried to get them to mosey on, and they looked at me like (insert Hanz & Franz voices here): Come on little girly man, you are but ~ 200 lbs and have no antlers (ie big, massive stabbing devices)...I will keeeelll you (Jeff Dunham)." They eventually went back in the woods when they were good and ready, because they decided to. Sorta like "Where do a grizzly crap in the woods?" Any where he darn well pleases.

YMMV,
BOSS
 
Last edited:
I just want to clarify. I observed the raccoon for probably 20 minutes before I decided to try to kill it. The coon was very, very clearly not just being curious or desensitized to humans. It just kind of walked aimlessly in circles and was not acting coherent. I looked it dead in the eyes when it woke me up and afterwards and its eyes were totally empty.

I absolutely hate killing anything. Even when hunting I feel awful when I kill a deer even though I know Im going to eat it. I made sure that the raccoon wasn't just overly friendly/ desensitized/ looking for a meal.

Being active in broad daylight at 3 in the afternoon, walking aimlessly and lethargically, having empty stares, and not responding in any way to stimulus including being hit with a shoe were all contributing factors to my decision. Safety is absolutely 100% first in my mind. My 6 year old nephew and his friends play in the yard every day and could have been attacked or thought the raccoon was cute and tired to pet it or feed it and become infected.

Whether it was rabies or some other disease, the Coon was not right in the head. I talked to the humane society/ animal control people when they arrived and they said there was a 90% chance that the coon had rabies because of its prevalence among the species in the area.
 
listen, These are all dangerous criminals your looking at here. Don't worry though, you can see these guys but they cannot see you. I just want you to relax and go ahead and point out the guy that assaulted you.....go ahead, don't be shy........IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE SURE ABOUT WHICH GUY YOU POINT OUT, A COON'S FREEDOM IS ON THE LINE HERE........
images-6-1.jpg
images-9.jpg
images-7-1.jpg
images-5-1.jpg
images-4-1.jpg
images-3-1.jpg
images-1-4.jpg
images-2-1.jpg
 
I have noticed some not taking this post seriously. It makes me wonder, if everyone know's that Rabies....... is a DEATH Sentence to Human's, if you get bit by a infected animal and there is no cure that I am aware of. As for as I know, there has only been ( 1 ) case, where a Human was biten and lived to tell about it. They used experimental drug's on her however, she was still in a Coma for a very long time and had to re-learn everything from walking to talking which took a very long time. The Girl was Biten by a infected Bat at Church, of all places. The girl was just trying to help the Bat and ended up getting bit. Hunter was very justified in his concern, as this could have been very bad for him. Just want to make sure everyone is aware of what Rabies can do too you!
 
KalEl said:
Whether it was rabies or some other disease, the Coon was not right in the head. I talked to the humane society/ animal control people when they arrived and they said there was a 90% chance that the coon had rabies because of its prevalence among the species in the area.
Click to expand...

That makes all the difference in the world, obviously.

BOSS
 
Super X said:
I have noticed some not taking this post seriously. It makes me wonder, if everyone know's that Rabies....... is a DEATH Sentence to Human's, if you get bit by a infected animal and there is no cure that I am aware of. As for as I know, there has only been ( 1 ) case, where a Human was biten and lived to tell about it. They used experimental drug's on her however, she was still in a Coma for a very long time and had to re-learn everything from walking to talking which took a very long time. The Girl was Biten by a infected Bat at Church, of all places. The girl was just trying to help the Bat and ended up getting bit. Hunter was very justified in his concern, as this could have been very bad for him. Just want to make sure everyone is aware of what Rabies can do too you!
Click to expand...

Actually, Rabies is quite treatable, as long as treatment is begun within a few days of being bitten. By the time there are symptoms - it is too late. Hence, if the animal that bites you is not recovered, you need to begin treatment in case it was infected. If you can recover the animal, they dissect it and examine/test the brain for a conclusive result.

Rabies treatment used to be a series of 30 shots way into the stomach area over 30 days, but now it is a little better, but still painful.
 
tomthebaker said:
Actually, Rabies is quite treatable, as long as treatment is begun within a few days of being bitten. By the time there are symptoms - it is too late. Hence, if the animal that bites you is not recovered, you need to begin treatment in case it was infected. If you can recover the animal, they dissect it and examine/test the brain for a conclusive result.

Rabies treatment used to be a series of 30 shots way into the stomach area over 30 days, but now it is a little better, but still painful.
Click to expand...

^^^
THIS




NOT this:
Super X said:
I have noticed some not taking this post seriously. It makes me wonder, if everyone know's that Rabies....... is a DEATH Sentence to Human's, if you get bit by a infected animal and there is no cure that I am aware of. As for as I know, there has only been ( 1 ) case, where a Human was biten and lived to tell about it. They used experimental drug's on her however, she was still in a Coma for a very long time and had to re-learn everything from walking to talking which took a very long time. The Girl was Biten by a infected Bat at Church, of all places. The girl was just trying to help the Bat and ended up getting bit. Hunter was very justified in his concern, as this could have been very bad for him. Just want to make sure everyone is aware of what Rabies can do too you!
Click to expand...
 
tomthebaker said:
Actually, Rabies is quite treatable, as long as treatment is begun within a few days of being bitten. By the time there are symptoms - it is too late. Hence, if the animal that bites you is not recovered, you need to begin treatment in case it was infected. If you can recover the animal, they dissect it and examine/test the brain for a conclusive result.

Rabies treatment used to be a series of 30 shots way into the stomach area over 30 days, but now it is a little better, but still painful.
Click to expand...

What is it now? 8 shots? With an 8 inch long needle in the stomach?

Kind of like Pulp Fiction, just repeatedly and a little lower.
 
I have two big ones that are outside my house and come and eat the cat food that my wife so generously provides. They will waddle away if you open the door and turn to give you a dirty look. No licking, however.


When I worked for the health department, one of the jobs was to collect animals that bit people so we cound send the heads to the state vetrinarian to test to see if they carried rabies. Most of the time the local vet would put them down and remove the head and bag it. We would put it in a bucket, put that in a cooler, and then it went on the Greyhound Bus to the state lab in Shoreline.

Best story was one of my supervisors Rick had to go get a German Shepherd that had bit a kid. Owner had killed it and stuffed it into a chest freezer. Frozen solid.

Only thing availabe to get the head off was a shovel.

Good times.
 
Racoons are extremely dangerous, especially large mature males. My uncle and aunt were hospitalized by a large male during the coon's breeding season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top