With the recent reports of a rabid raccoon or raccoons in two separate incidents attacking both a person and a pet dog in Prospect, parents should remind their tweens not to go near any of the varied wildlife we have here in Connecticut. Even those living in cities with rarer wildlife activity, raccoons, skunks and opossums are occasionally found living in storm drains or vacant lots, rubbing shoulders with feral or stray cats and dogs.
Tweens are at an age where the impulse to approach ‘cute’ or fascinating wildlife meets a propensity to act first and think later. This can be a particular problem in the case of rabid animals because tweens often feel a great deal of embarrassment over making mistakes and may not want to tell a parent that they have been scratched or bitten by an animal. Tweens are commonly prone to that awful feeling everyone gets on realizing that they have done something without thinking that can be construed as a ‘stupid move’.
Parents need to reassure tweens before the fact that they don’t need to feel that way and should never be afraid to inform you immediately of animal bites or scratches. Encourage them instead, in the event of such a mishap, to follow the recommended steps for first aid involving animal bites and scratches (as outlined by both kidshealth.org and the Mayo Clinic). These including foremost seeing a doctor if rabies is suspected due to a wild animal or pet of unknown vaccination status being involved.
When reminding tweens not to approach animals or how to properly deal with wildlife encounters, it is very important to tell them that you will not be angry at them for forgetting these rules. Be sure that they know they should not feel ’stupid’ if they do forget, approach the animal and get bitten or scratched. Make sure that they understand that they should tell you immediately and stress that the most important thing in such a situation is getting them to a doctor quickly, even if they might think it’s only a little scratch.
Connecticut Department of Agriculture Animal Control Division – their website outlines the state rules and laws for dog licensing and rabies control and provides a rabies manual.
It is also important to teach your tweens that all wildlife, not just those that look sick or are acting strangely, should be left alone. Even if rabies were not an issue, such as in the case of birds or reptiles, cuts and scratches received from any wild animal carries the risk of infection. In the case of birds and reptiles there is also the risk of salmonella which once caused the sale of turtles to be banned in our state for several years. Beyond the risks of infected bites and scratches or other more serious injuries depending upon the animal approached (or inadvertently encountered), interaction with wildlife is most often detrimental to that wildlife as noted by the Connecticut Audobon Society.
Again even if rabies were not an issue, the animal wildlife present here in Connecticut ranges from squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and opossums to foxes, coyotes and black bear. Many of these are undeniably adorable in appearance even when they are adults and greatly tempting to approach, touch and try to pick up. All of them are even more-so when they are babies which when tweens approach those, will almost surely attract the attention of their adult counterparts. They are as fierce in protecting their young as you are in defending yours, remind your tween of this fact.
Even, or especially if your tween were to run across injured animals, they need to be aware beforehand that an injured, sick or cornered animal is at it’s most dangerous. One of these reasons is often the cause for most non-rabies-related animal attacks. A general, but gently stated ‘hands off’ policy is the best advice a parent can give their tweens when it comes to wildlife interaction. Reminders made in casual tones and almost in passing will decrease the chances that your tween will feel so awful about ignoring safety advice, and they will find it easier to tell you quickly about bites or scratches.