FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Re: Rabies confirmed Marlvern Hill & Possible Case Pony Pasture

[IE Ries <feathermom_chirpling@xxxxxxxxx>]

According to the City of Richmond Animal Control Office, the most prevalent 
rabies vector within city limits is feral cats.  Chesterfield County has also 
released advisories regarding rabies dangers from feral cats, and has posted 
warnings in all county parks.
   
  IE Ries

katya <katya@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
     Dear Friends at RAS,
  I just read this e-mail from Ralph White and thought it was something I 
should share with you all.
  Katie
      Your concern about rabies is well-founded. It is an absolutely awful 
disease if it infects a human --- a slow, frightening and tortuous process that 
always leads to death.  We may have had a small raccoon die of rabies a week 
ago at the Pony Pasture Rapids Park in Pleasant Creek near the Charlie Slade 
Bridge.  We haven't heard back from the Health Dept yet.
      The over-arching issue is the need to manage the over abundance of 
wildlife now developing in our cities and sub-urban areas. Rabies (and 
distemper) spread by saliva contact with an open wound. Such contact occurs 
during mating ...(not much you can do about that) ...  and when animal 
populations are abnormally large due to too much food or too few predators.
      Birders and other people interested in nature and wildlife should be 
pushing City and State officials to begin to take responsibility for the 
ballooning populations of certain species .... like raccoons ... and deer .... 
and Canada Geese.
      I don't know what the control mechanisms will be --- almost any action 
will generate some kind of opposition --- but I do know that it is about time 
we took responsibility for the consequences of our good actions in cleaning up 
and caring for the environment.
      Best wishes,
          Ralph White
          Park Mgr
      



"Hope is the thing with feathers 
  That perches in the soul 
  And sings the tune without the words 
  And never stops at all." 
  --Emily Dickenson 
   
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheParakeetPerch/

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