Rabid Skunk Confirmed in Franklin County

Another confirmed case of rabies near Franklin Springs, this time involving a rabid skunk.

Franklin County Environmental Health Director Louis Korff said that this past Monday, the skunk was spotted on Jackson Bridge Road.

“Two little girls were playing out on Jackson Bridge when a neighbor saw the skunk, which was obviously rabid, not 100 feet  from where the girls were,” Korff said. “She called 911 and then called me. I came out and observed while a Sheriff’s deputy dispatched the skunk.”

Korff said the situation could have been much worse if the children had tried to help the sick animal. He reminds children and parents  to never go near a wild animal.

“It was so close to these children and it looked so pathetic that I could see them approaching it to try and help it,” Korff said. “In a blink of an eye, you could have had a tragedy. That’s why we have to educate our children to never to approach a wild animal they see in the daytime. If they see a wild animal in the daytime they need to turn and go the other way and tell a parent.”

Meantime, a special rabies clinic held in Royton and Franklin Springs last Saturday was a big success.

Korff and veterinarians from the Royston Animal Hospital sponsored the clinic at the request of local law enforcement because of the higher than normal incidents of rabid wildlife turning up in neighborhoods in those two communites.

 

“We had over 100 pet owners come out to have their pets vaccinated at the animal clinic and at Deason’s Garden Center,” he said.

Korff said he is in talks with the veterinarians at Royston Animal Hospital to offer a fall rabies clinic as well.

“Dr. Cato at Royston Animal Hospital actually brought up the idea of holding a second clinic in the South Franklin County area in fall since this one went so well,” he said.

So far, an exact date for the fall rabies clinic has not yet been set.