Rabies!

[Ironmower]

The other day I got a call from one of my elderly neighbors, who had a coon chase her around her house. The coon was rabied, so I shot him, put it in a bag, and buried it. Later that day I was talkin' with a fella about the incident. He asked why I buried it, I said, so nothin else would eat it and contract rabies also. He thinks that once the body temp comes down, the virus dies. What is your fellas take on this, am I wastin' time buring them or should I do somethin' else with'em? Can buzzards contract this too, or is it just mammals?

[Roxie]

This site hand some interesting information:

http://administration.binghamton.edu/procedures/800series/825.htm

They recommend using bleach on any thing that touched the dead animal including the area where the animal was 'found'. 

If the bag you used was plastic, and you went three feet into the ground, it sounds like you should be ok.  Rabies is a virus, and birds can catch it.

[stonebroke]

I think the rabies virus will die in 24hours out in the open air.


Stonebroke

[beenthere]

How did you know it had rabies?

[Ironmower]

The coon was out in the daytime, mangy fur and was foaming at the mouth. If it wasn't rabies, what else could it be?

[thecfarm]

It had something wrong with it,that's for sure.I would bury it too or just throw it into my outdoor furnace.Around here coons don't chase humans.

[pappy19]

The coon was out in the daytime, mangy fur and was foaming at the mouth. If it wasn't rabies, what else could it be?

I've seen some dudes come out of a bar at 10am in the morning that acted the same way.

[Dave Shepard]

I could be wrong, but I think only mammals can contract rabies. I've also read that it dies in 24 hours.

[Raider Bill]

The coon was out in the daytime, mangy fur and was foaming at the mouth. If it wasn't rabies, what else could it be?

I've seen some dudes come out of a bar at 10am in the morning that acted the same way.

You should have let me know that was you. I'd of bought you a beer. :D

[Shotgun]

Rabies is a virus, and birds can catch it.

You'd better watch out for those bird bites.     ;)

Norm

[DRB]

Could be canine distemper which is much more common then Rabies I am pretty sure Coons can get it most carnivoroous mammals can.  It is a virus similar to measles. Regardless killing and burying the coon or buring it would be the proper thing to do.