Banks Co. family says rabid skunk attacked calf

LULA - While rabid animals are not uncommon in our part of the state, a Banks County family recently had an encounter that public health officials say is a bit unusual.

The family reported to the Banks County Health Department that a calf was attacked by a rabid skunk. The owner of the calf, whose name was not released, said he was bottle feeding the calf in an enclosed building at the time. He was able to shoot and kill the skunk and take it to state officials for testing. A second skunk, also in the building, ran from the site.

Dave Palmer with District 2 Public Health in Gainesville confirmed the attack, and said it is unusual for a rabid animal to enter an enclosed structure.

"The skunks did come into a building and did bite the calf," said Palmer.

Palmer confirmed the calf died after the attack, but he said Banks County Health Department officials told him the calf had other illnesses that might have made it more susceptible to the attack, so they could not confirm rabies was the sole cause of death.

No matter the circumstances, Palmer said people should never confront a wild animal, especially if they think the animal might be rabid.

"Don't have contact with it, you know, leave it alone, don't try to chase it away, just avoid the animal," said Palmer.

Palmer said Banks County typically has under a dozen cases of rabies each year. So far this year, Hall County has eight confirmed cases of the disease.

Palmer said the best thing to do to prevent the spread of rabies is to make sure domesticated animals are vaccinated each year.

See the links below for more information on the Department of Public Health in north Georgia and on the prevention of rabies.