Tag Archives: disease

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.”

Tennessee: Salamander Capital of the World

We’re proud to live in such a beautiful, remarkable area teeming with life! Tennessee is home to more salamander species than any other part of the world. Over 60 species of salamander—12% of species on Earth!— are native to Tennessee, with most of those living here in the eastern quarter of the state. The oneContinue reading “Tennessee: Salamander Capital of the World”

Chipmunks are Harmless: Don’t Hurt Them!

Pest control companies seeking your business may be quick to exaggerate— or even totally fabricate— the damage that chipmunks can cause. Please don’t be in a rush to harm these little guys! Eastern chipmunk burrows have tiny entrances only about the size of a quarter, so unless your lawn is so neat and tidy thatContinue reading “Chipmunks are Harmless: Don’t Hurt Them!”

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”

Will armadillos give me leprosy?

The nine-banded armadillo is one of many unfairly stigmatized animals living here in Tennessee. It’s hard to avoid worrisome news headlines about armadillos carrying leprosy, a painful, disfiguring disease that we humans have feared for millennia. It’s true that some nine-banded armadillos do carry the bacterium that causes leprosy. They first caught it about 500Continue reading “Will armadillos give me leprosy?”

For Fox Sake Supports Vaccines!

Our recent post about the USDA’s oral rabies vaccine generated a lot of controversy! Commenters made claims that— among other things— rabies vaccines spread rabies and contain ground-up human baby parts. The oral rabies vaccine is distributed by the USDA, not For Fox Sake, but we’ve received similar criticisms whenever we’ve mentioned vaccinating the animalsContinue reading “For Fox Sake Supports Vaccines!”

Do Opossums Spread Typhus?

The Virginia opossum’s rat-like appearance and association with filth leads many people to associate it with disease. In the last few years, many people have been alarmed by headlines about opossums spreading murine typhus in Los Angeles, and it has reignited fears about this gentle marsupial. No mammal actually spreads murine typhus. Typhus is causedContinue reading “Do Opossums Spread Typhus?”

Should We Kill Foxes to Prevent Rabies?

Do you kill random humans, just in case they have ebola? Foxes, skunks, and raccoons are routinely killed because of their reputation as rabies vectors. While rabies is a problem, destroying healthy animals does absolutely nothing to control the spread of disease. It just causes unnecessary death and suffering. You can prevent rabies by havingContinue reading “Should We Kill Foxes to Prevent Rabies?”