Grand Canyon - rabies

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Grand Canyon - rabies

Postby ohiocaver » Sep 17, 2018 10:33 am

According to USA TODAY (9/17), there is a confirmed case of a rabid bat in Grand Canyon NP. Not sure of the relevance to caving...but there you have it. :bananabat:
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Re: Grand Canyon - rabies

Postby captnemo » Sep 27, 2018 11:40 am

Not surprising, bats, like any mammal in the wild are potential rabies vectors and rabies has been found in all the U.S states except Hawaii.
As the rangers at the Grand Canyon like to point out the most dangerous animals there are the ground squirrels which tourists try to feed and get bit by. The squirrels are vectors for plague as well as rabies and other diseases so not something you'd want to experience. It's just a good idea to not handle wild critters unless you are trained and experienced. Observe and leave them alone and all should be well. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/index.html
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Re: Grand Canyon - rabies

Postby ohiocaver » Oct 1, 2018 5:31 pm

True that. A hiking friend transported a ground squirrel about 9 miles in his back before the thing ate its way out of the pack from the inside out and scared the bejesus out of me (I was walking behind him). No ill effects other than a ruined bag of freeze-dried something and a hole to patch.
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Re: Grand Canyon - rabies

Postby captnemo » Oct 3, 2018 11:30 am

LOL, glad no one was bit. Reminds me of the marmots that hang around the junction on Whitney waiting for people to set their packs down for the final stretch up to the peak. As soon as the hikers leave the marmots dig into any unguarded packs.
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