| Author |
Message |
    
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2237
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:06 am: | 
|
I saw them in the dumpster by the park side of the train station. I was told that Animal Control was called already and would be arriving later in the day. The babies were just so unbelievably darling, it was just too much cuteness. The mother was sluggish and didn't seem to move too much. It looked at me but didn't say a peep. I could be wrong and she could be fine. One of the little babies was munching on half of a plain bagel and I couldn't contain myself and I audibly let out an "Aaaawwwwww...."
It was a sad but adorable way to start my morning. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 593
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:41 am: |
|
There's a small mammal rescue center on Garthwaite Place in Maplewood, and I think this is what they do. I'm blanking on the number, but maybe someone will remember. The woman's first name is Sonya and she has a Greek sounding last name. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5359
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 12:50 pm: |
|
If the raccoon is out during the day chances are there is something wrong with her. I hope the garbage men don't empty the dumpster before Animal Control gets to them. |
Bajou
Citizen
Username: Bajou
Post Number: 617
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 12:59 pm: |
|
A momma racoon out at that hour with babies is bad news. She must be gravely ill if she is no longer able to hide with her babies during the day. Please do not handle them at all. The fact that momma is ill but babies are ok sounds very much like rabbies. Distemper, Coronavirus, Parvo would get the babies first but Rabbies would get her first and them later by transmission through the milk.
Let animal control take over.... |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5360
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 1:06 pm: |
|
Thanks Bajou! I was afraid to even post my post out of fear I'd be wrong. I'm really surprised Animal Control won't get there until later today; especially since the poor thing might have Rabbies. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 6507
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 1:12 pm: |
|
Rabies.
Rabbies sounds like small jewish holy men. |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 1056
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 1:16 pm: |
|
Rabbis with rabies?
|
Bajou
Citizen
Username: Bajou
Post Number: 620
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 1:31 pm: |
|
Oh I am sorry I know it is Rabies. I am typing a mile a minute so I won't get caught by my boss who is showing signs of rabies everytime he sees me typing on the board...yikes |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2244
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 1:31 pm: |
|
Pen or Jen (one of the women who work in the train station) was the person who called Animal Control and she was disappointed that they weren't rushing right over either. She was totally distraught and was the one who felt SURE that the momma was sick. I didn't really talk to her, I more overheard and just had to sneak a peek at the little guys. |
Bajou
Citizen
Username: Bajou
Post Number: 622
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 1:34 pm: |
|
You'd be amazed how many calls they get a day for this. Trust me those two guys between MLWD and SO have alot of ground to cover. |
canismajor
Citizen
Username: Canismajor
Post Number: 421
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 2:53 pm: |
|
I saw the animal control truck outside the MW station as I was boarding the 8:57 train this morning...hopefully he was there for the raccoons. |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 317
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 3:11 pm: |
|
It is not likely to be rabies since rabies doesn't happen here too often and when it does it is so rare that it is in the papers as warning to people.
The last incident I recall was the kid who got bit by a bat. As per my first paragraph, that too, was in the papers. |
Calliope
Citizen
Username: Calliope
Post Number: 388
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 3:21 pm: |
|
It is most likely distemper. Not pleasant, still contagious to wild and domestic animals, but not rabies.
So sad.
Calli |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11806
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 3:38 pm: |
|
Actually we had a serious rabies epidemic a few years ago. It wiped out most of the local raccoons, but I think it has pretty much run its course.
I know I am going to get hammered by somebody, but remember the series of mysteries about a Rabbi/detective. The titles were along the lines of "On Friday the Rabbi Slept Late". How about, "On Tuesday the Rabbi got Rabies". Don't worry, he got the shots and is fine and discovered who put the rabid raccoon in his closet.  |
Bajou
Citizen
Username: Bajou
Post Number: 623
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 6:06 pm: |
|
Rabies is quite common here in wildlife but what gets attention in the paper is a question of a rabid animal being in contact with a human.
Distemper would have killed the babies first as they would be much more susceptible to the virus if the mother has no ticker to transmit in her milk.
Read:
New Jersey is facing another challenge from rabies. Raccoon rabies has spread throughout the state.
How did the outbreak of rabies in raccoons get started in this part of the country?
In 1977, rabid raccoons were first detected in West Virginia. It is believed that rabies was present in raccoons imported from Florida into West Virginia by hunters in the 1970's. The disease then spread to other raccoons after they were released. Once raccoon rabies was established in West Virginia and Virginia, it spread at a rate of approximately 25 to 50 miles per year into Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, and Pennsylvania. This rabies epizootic spread into New Jersey through Warren and Hunterdon counties in October 1989. The raccoon rabies epizootic now extends throughout New England and as far west as Ohio, and south into North Carolina. (Note: an epizootic is a term used to denote an epidemic of disease in an animal population).
What areas of New Jersey are affected the most?
All areas of the State of New Jersey, including urban centers, have been affected by this rabies outbreak. Suburban areas in which raccoons, people and pets are in close proximity have had the highest number of cases.
How can I protect myself from being exposed to rabies?
Wild animals, particularly raccoons, foxes, skunks, groundhogs and bats, are most likely to be infected with rabies. Although raccoons are the most frequently infected animals in the current rabies outbreak, other animals are often bitten and infected by raccoons. Wild animals with rabies do not always display signs of illness and can be perfectly healthy in appearance. Avoid all contact with bats, particularly sick or downed ones. All bites and scratches from these animals should be washed out immediately and receive prompt medical attention. If possible, wild animals that have been exposed to humans or domestic animals should be captured and tested for rabies.
Why recommend that domestic animals get vaccinated if raccoons are the animals spreading rabies?
Raccoons are very good at spreading rabies. When rabid raccoons enter an area, many other types of animals acquire rabies from raccoons. From 1989 through 2000, over 4,300 New Jersey animals were found to have rabies as a result of the raccoon rabies epizootic. Although 77% of these animals were raccoons, 14% were skunks, 4% were cats, 2% were foxes, and 2% were groundhogs. Twelve other species of animals were also diagnosed with rabies.
Link : From Link http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/rabies.htm:
Also:
It is a missunderstanding that rabied animals will seek out and bite something. Most rabied animals will seek out streems, lakes, drainage pipes as the final stages of rabies make the sickened animal feel like it is dying of thirst.
Raccoons ususally show the "dumb" version of rabies, not the "aggressive" verion which is asssociated with dogs and cats.
Symptoms of Rabies
Symptoms usually develop between 20 and 60 days after exposure. Rabid animals may become aggressive, combative, and highly sensitive to touch and other kinds of stimulation. And they can be vicious. This is the "furious" form of rabies, the kind traditionally associated with dogs and cats.
There is also a "dumb" form of the disease in which the animal is lethargic, weak in one or more limbs, and unable to raise its head or make sounds because its throat and neck muscles are paralyzed. In both kinds of animal rabies, death occurs a few days after symptoms appear, usually from respiratory failure.
|
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5365
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 7:48 pm: |
|
Me sorry too. Bajou I just copied you! |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5366
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 8:15 pm: |
|
Rabies Fact Sheet
http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/rabies.htm
National Center for Infectious Disease -Rabies
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/default.htm
Sayerville 18 May
http://suburban.gmnews.com/news/2006/0518/Front_Page/056.html
Brick 18 May
http://bulletin.gmnews.com/news/2006/0518/Front_Page/027.html
25 May 2006 Middlesex County
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060525/NEWS0102/605250396/1001
8 June 2006 Hillsborough
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16754682&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=4257 42&rfi=6 |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 429
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 10:15 pm: |
|
My then-4 yo was chased and bitten by a raccoon in our backyard, mid-afternoon last spring. It literally charged her and knocked her to the ground. She had to have the rabies shots.
Don't take chances. They're cute, but they can be aggressive. |
Mr. Big Poppa
Citizen
Username: Big_poppa
Post Number: 704
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 10:29 pm: |
|
And they like tipping garbage cans, ripping trash bags and scattering trash across the yard....usually found by a person on their way (late)to the train station in the morning.
 |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1546
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 10:31 pm: |
|
I know I'm probaly reaching here, but maybe the mom knew it was bad & she got her babies into the dumpster so that they could get food even if she wasn't able to feed them herself (good thinking until the trash truck comes  )
|
combustion
Citizen
Username: Spontaneous
Post Number: 97
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 - 1:11 am: |
|
Interesting description of rabies. I think my first husband may have had the "dumb" form of the disease. Or maybe he's just dumb. I'm not sure which. |
Bajou
Citizen
Username: Bajou
Post Number: 628
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 - 1:18 am: |
|
Doulamomma...not reaching at all..Unfortunately right. She is going to try to find as much "good" food as she can get for her babies. Not only that if she knows she is seriously knows she is ill she really is she is going to look for a feeding place that is plentyfull enough if she is not around. She is just being an exceptional good mom! The kind that knows she is going to die and needs to have her offsprings be surrounded by plenty of good food. Believe it or not they do seem to know and they do place their babies that way .....but they do not know about garbage pick up. Unfortunately... |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page