The Scary Reason to Avoid Michigan Skunks (And It’s Not the Smell)

As a kid I loved skunks, they have an awesome black and white pattern in their fur and from watching Pepe Le Pew of Looney Tunes.

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However, as an adult, that love quickly faded after my dog Benny got skunked, and smelled terrible for months anytime his fur got wet.

But besides leaving you or your pet with a bad smell, skunks could actually kill you with a single bite.

Michigan Resident Bitten By Skunk With Rabies

In Oakland County, a person has tested positive for rabies after being bitten by a skunk

The bite happened on March 27 and a few days later on March 31 the skunk's rabies test came back positive according to the Oakland County Health Division.

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a very severe viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals.

It is most commonly transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, typically via a bite or scratch.

While rabies is one of the deadliest diseases with a death rate of nearly 100% once symptoms appear—it is also 100% preventable if treated immediately after exposure.

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What to Do if Bitten by a Rabid Animal

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal with rabies, doctors will give you a series of shots. This helps your immune system to destroy the virus before it reaches your brain.

The most frequent carriers of rabies are

BATS

RACOONS

SKUNKS

FOXES

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You can learn more about rabies and what to do at Michigan.gov