FYI - There have been two confirmed cases of rabies discovered in Grapevine, both cases in skunks. One of the skunks was found in the area of Tamarack Court and the second in the area of Circle View Court.
You cannot tell if an animal has rabies by just looking at it. A clue though is if the animal is acting strangely.Some animals may act mad when they have rabies. They will be hostile and may try to bite you or other animals. In movies, animals with rabies look like they are foaming at the mouth. What is really happening is that the rabies makes them have more saliva and that makes them drool.
Other animals may act timid or shy when they have rabies. This is the most common kind. A wild animal might move slowly or act tame. You might be able to easily get close to it. Since that is not the way wild animals usually act, you should remember that something could be wrong.
A typical healthy skunk will not allow you to approach it. Skunks are fond of garbage, beetle larvae and grubs, bringing them into your yard at night to look for a meal in the trash and in stumps and logs on your property. Nevertheless, a skunk will run for safety when confronted. A skunk with rabies can lose its fear of people and exhibit aggressive behavior.
A skunk you see during daylight hours has the potential to be rabid. Skunks are nocturnal creatures, venturing forth after dark to look for food. During the day, they sleep. A skunk walking around in broad daylight is an unnatural sight and probably a sign that the animal has the disease.
The only way to know for sure if an animal has rabies is to do a laboratory tests. The best thing to do is to never feed or approach a wild animal. Be careful of pets that you do not know. If you see a stray dog or cat do not pet it. If you observe any animal that is acting strangely call Grapevine Animal Control at 817 410-8127.
