Police Warn Feeding Wild Animals May Spread Disease

Posted by Publisher on
Fairhope, Alabama




MONDAY'S DIRECTOR'S ROUNDTABLE MEETING

Police Lt. Hamrick advised citizens not to leave food out for area wildlife, because it may be spreading rabies (through saliva) and attract sick animals to your property.

Hamrick referenced one incident last week where a citizen was bitten by a fox and another by a raccoon near the hospital: the fox is only a suspected rabies case because it was never located but the raccoon was confirmed.

It is possible the disease was spread when both shared a bowl of food left out for the animals or pets.

At least two other cases have been reported this Summer as well.


Hamrick second from right

GULLIES SUSPECTED

The city's many heavily vegetated gullies are havens for small, wild animals (including feral cats) who use them to move throughout the town, he said.


INOCULATE PETS

He advised pet owners to be sure to get their pets inoculated per state rabies law and for their own protection.


Comments

Anonymous said…
OK Now tell that to the Cat coalition.
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
Anonymous said…
Over development has messed up the food chain. This is just a symptom of that. Mother Nature always bats last.
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
Anonymous said…
The cat people leave food all over the Fruit and Nut district every day.......they hide the food dishes in the bushes of homes that are unoccupied. They think that they are saving lives of animals but they are only creating feeding stations that draw the rabid to the bait. The City needs to install some 'trail cameras' around vacant lots/homes and catch these people.
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
Anonymous said…
The Fairhope Cat Coalition did not create the rabies problem. They are working with a problem created by others who did not spay and neuter their cats. If they weren't doing what they do the city would be overrun with cats. Put the blame where it belongs. Over development that has disturbed the natural order of the food chain. There are plenty of people out there that are feeding their companion animals outside.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Anonymous said…
Well The CAT COALITION is a part of the problem not the solution.Rabies can be transmitted by the saliva left on food or food bowls to other animals.(look it up)There are several issues, One=the feeding of cats fixed or not does not curtail the spread of rabies.Even if the wild un-homed cats are vaccinated(which most are not). Two=There is also several restaurants that fail to close the doors on their dumpsters at night allowing many animals to feed in them.Three =Continued developments remove natural habit for these animals as they travel through the ravine and drainage systems through out town.After several conversations with Federal and State wildlife officials the feeding of cats are a big problem as they carry many diseases,HIV,rabies,feline leukemia to name a few.So the bleeding hearts have to realize YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL.The foxes can travel as much as 2-5 miles per day to feed,and raccoons travels in packs.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Anonymous said…
I hav never heard of a cat getting rabies but I suppose it is possible.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
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