Predator hunting and exposure to rabies

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Quiet

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The times I've field-dressed and skinned a deer or processed a rabbit, I always seem to get the blood on myself and my clothing,

I grew up in an area where there was lots of rabies at the time, so I still always just assume that any fox/racoon/coyote I see is probably rabid. If a hunter with a small game licence wants to keep the pelts of a fox or eastern coyote, what do you do to avoid potential exposure to rabies? Is this something that you even worry about?

I'm not looking for discussion of excuses to throw away pelts like mange or whatever.
 
Probably much higher health hazard with tettnus. Rabies in the west most associated with racoons, skunks, bats, and farm pets that could have been infected. Rabies is a disease most often seen in the warmer months. I don't believe myself you would see in the depth of winter rabid animals as mortality rate is so high.
Last human fatality I remember was an industrial electrician. A young BC man in his twenties merely scratched by infected bat. IIRC happened in the spring.
Infected bats quickly loose thier ability to fly.
It's a strange sight seeing them crawl across parking lot in the daytime hours.
Regardless the wild animal it's wise to wear medical gloves while handling them. Never ever approach any animal exhibiting strange behaviour.
Medical labs require thier brain intact for testing of rabies.
 
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Observing live animals would be telling of their condition since rabies in animals usually shows in a couple days: once the virus reaches the brain, it's fast. Fortunately it kills quickly which impedes spread. While it was highly unlikely I'd ever have to skin a rabid animal, I wore gloves just to avoid the inevitable hand scrubbing which unsuccessfully removes latent smells a trapper would gain from hours of skinning... muskrat and coon were particularly smelly ranging up to the less offensive otter and beaver. Rabies is spread by fluid transmission: avoid that because of normal hygienic practice anyway. I don't know how long it persists as an infectious agent in a carcass... online sources indicate ~24hrs or once saliva has dried.
 
Quiet said:
The times I've field-dressed and skinned a deer or processed a rabbit, I always seem to get the blood on myself and my clothing,

I grew up in an area where there was lots of rabies at the time, so I still always just assume that any fox/racoon/coyote I see is probably rabid. If a hunter with a small game licence wants to keep the pelts of a fox or eastern coyote, what do you do to avoid potential exposure to rabies? Is this something that you even worry about?

I'm not looking for discussion of excuses to throw away pelts like mange or whatever.
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Rabies isn't transmitted through blood. It's transmitted via saliva and brain/spinal tissue. There is essentially a negligible risk from skinning even the most infectious of rabid wild animals.

You're wearing nitrile gloves for field dressing anyway, right? I always have a few pairs stashed in my pack. Lot easier and lighter than carrying baby wipes or more water to wash your paws, and much nicer than than having wet cold hands on a February evening. No ####ing around trying to wash blood off your hands in the dark. They're not the craziest thing to have in your glove box either. I mean, I don't go looking for trouble, but so far there's been four times in my life where I've been the literal first person at the scene of an accident where there was enough blood to be a problem. Two times I had gloves, and the other two times I ended up getting a not insignificant amount of someone else's blood on me. Heck they even come in useful for dog injuries if you have one, or for emergency car repairs... etc etc.

I like the Defender T gloves from Tac Med, they're thick and go well up your wrist.
 
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Rabies isnt all that common these days. MNRF in Ontario does a pretty intensive rabies vaccination program in areas its likely to occur, for example. You dont mention were youre from so its hard to give specifics.

Anyways, I'd wear nitrile gloves as a start. The details as to why are mentioned above. Also, as mentioned above, rabies is spread through saliva.
 
Like LolaPP said. Rabies is spread From saliva. I didn’t know about the brain tissue. I have never been too worried about skinning a coyote. Makes me more nervous eating plumbs off the ground. Seen raccoons out there one night. Eating the plumbs.
 
Like LolaPP said. Rabies is spread From saliva. I didn’t know about the brain tissue. I have never been too worried about skinning a coyote. Makes me more nervous eating plumbs off the ground. Seen raccoons out there one night. Eating the plumbs.
 
I'd be more worried about exposure to parasites, like hydatid disease or similar. Heard a 2nd hand story that someone around here picked something up from handling wolves, and now has cysts in their lungs/etc.
 
mnr said:
I'd be more worried about exposure to parasites, like hydatid disease or similar.
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That is a very real concern. Be careful when handling wolves and coyotes and wash your hands before you smoke or eat. I always cringe when I see the brag-photos of someone hugging a wolf close to their body.
 
Quiet said:
The times I've field-dressed and skinned a deer or processed a rabbit, I always seem to get the blood on myself and my clothing,

I grew up in an area where there was lots of rabies at the time, so I still always just assume that any fox/racoon/coyote I see is probably rabid. If a hunter with a small game licence wants to keep the pelts of a fox or eastern coyote, what do you do to avoid potential exposure to rabies? Is this something that you even worry about?

I'm not looking for discussion of excuses to throw away pelts like mange or whatever.
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Gloves,masks and aprons can be bought at most TSC Stores and Co-op outlets. I was taught to skin out Coyotes in the field using care not to get covered in blood. A good apron is indispensable as are gloves that won't slip off knife handles. Les Johnson has an excellent video on field skinning. www.predatorquest.com
 
Lyme disease in Ontario is much more a risk than rabies when hunting and for urban dwellers roundworm in the garden and kids sandbox from raccoon droppings would be more a concern than rabies.
 
Galt said:
Lyme disease in Ontario is much more a risk than rabies when hunting and for urban dwellers roundworm in the garden and kids sandbox from raccoon droppings would be more a concern than rabies.
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I agree. I figure I picked up Lyme disease deer hunting while skinning out 3-4 deer hanging in a drive shed. I never saw the tic or had a rash. It would have fallen off the deer and got into my winter clothing. It took 10 years to get diagnosed and 22 years later I still suffer the affects.
Be careful handling carcasses. I recall seeing fresh shot groundhogs and little beasties coming off them.
 
theDuck said:
I agree. I figure I picked up Lyme disease deer hunting while skinning out 3-4 deer hanging in a drive shed. I never saw the tic or had a rash. It would have fallen off the deer and got into my winter clothing. It took 10 years to get diagnosed and 22 years later I still suffer the affects.
Be careful handling carcasses. I recall seeing fresh shot groundhogs and little beasties coming off them.
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I know a couple guts who have been exposed and as you say , went untreated for too long and has lasting effects.
 
buckhunter78 said:
Like LolaPP said. Rabies is spread From saliva. I didn’t know about the brain tissue. I have never been too worried about skinning a coyote. Makes me more nervous eating plumbs off the ground. Seen raccoons out there one night. Eating the plumbs.
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I just automatically assumed the blood would be the issue. I've eaten apples from under the trees my whole life without giving it much thought as long as they had no sign of nibbles. Now you've given me more to worry about!
 
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