A lot of people in our area are upset and concerned after a local coyote was spotted, appearing disoriented. While it’s always very important to exercise caution around an animal that seems to be sick, confused, or fearless, please be aware that the risk of rabies from coyotes is extremely small in the United States!Continue reading “Rabies: Rare in Coyotes”
Category Archives: Public Health
Should You Kill the Snake that Bit You?
You likely heard this myth growing up, especially if you had a misguided scout leader or grandpa! The idea is that, if you get bitten by a snake, you should immediately kill it so you can bring it with you to the emergency room. Supposedly, the snake’s carcass will allow doctors to know whether theContinue reading “Should You Kill the Snake that Bit You?”
Raccoons and Brain Worms
Wild animals are beautiful, majestic, important, sentient, and, sometimes, really freaking gross. So let’s talk about one of the most horrifying examples of what can happen when you don’t give wild animals the space and respect they deserve: brain worms! 70-90% of raccoons carry a roundworm in their guts called Baylisascaris procyonis, but that’s aContinue reading “Raccoons and Brain Worms”
About that guy who yeeted the bobcat…
Have you see that viral video of a bobcat attacking a woman, then getting grabbed and thrown by her husband? Some people found it hilarious. Others found it terrifying. A few called it fake, correctly observing that bobcat attacks on humans are extremely rare. The video is unfortunately real, but we need to emphasize thatContinue reading “About that guy who yeeted the bobcat…”
Copperheads Aren’t Very Dangerous
Although copperheads are venomous, they aren’t nearly as dangerous as many people believe. They are incredibly shy, elusive snakes who greatly prefer to hide rather than to bite. A copperhead will only bite a human if it’s directly provoked, such as when it has been stepped upon or handled. In the unlikely event that aContinue reading “Copperheads Aren’t Very Dangerous”
Bobcats Eat Venomous Snakes
Venomous snakes aren’t bad or evil. Like all other animals, they have an important role to play in our ecosystem. Among other things, snakes help to control populations of rats and mice. This in turn helps reduce the incidence of diseases these rodents might carry. Nevertheless, you probably don’t want venomous snakes living too closeContinue reading “Bobcats Eat Venomous Snakes”
Babies, Not Rabies: Why Raccoons are Awake in Daytime
It’s that time of year! We’ve started getting our annual influx of calls about raccoons seen during daylight hours. Many callers are concerned that these animals have rabies. Don’t worry: unless you see other worrisome symptoms, being awake in the daytime isn’t cause for alarm. From April through August, most of the female raccoons inContinue reading “Babies, Not Rabies: Why Raccoons are Awake in Daytime”
Rabies in coyotes? Rare and unlikely.
You might have read the very alarming news articles about a father in New Hampshire who strangled a coyote to death when it attacked his two-year-old. For Fox Sake commends this incredible dad for his strength and bravery in the face of such a terrifying incident. Preying on humans is not normal behavior for aContinue reading “Rabies in coyotes? Rare and unlikely.”
Your “pet” raccoon will be killed. It’s your fault.
Folks, we need to have a talk. This isn’t a pleasant, cute, or cuddly talk, but it’s one that we Tennessean animal lovers need to have. I get calls all the time from people who find baby raccoons and, instead of calling a qualified rehabilitator, they choose to raise the animal as a pet. ByContinue reading “Your “pet” raccoon will be killed. It’s your fault.”
Vultures and the Zombie Apocalypse
A group of vultures— called a “wake”— can consume an entire 150-pound corpse in just a few hours! Of course, those corpses are generally deer, but if you find yourself in a post-apocalyptic scenario surrounded by zombies, your vulture neighbors would come in handy. These amazing birds are quickly attracted to the smell of decayContinue reading “Vultures and the Zombie Apocalypse”
For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue 