Rabies and Camping: What You Need to Know

There are a number of reasons to enjoy a camping trip: the peace of the outdoors, the inexpensive cost of lodging, the sense of accomplishment one gets from living off the land, the chance to witness beauty only available in nature, and, one of my personal favorites, the chance to observe wildlife in a natural setting.

Children and adults alike enjoy viewing animals, especially those that we rarely see at home. A camping trip provides a perfect opportunity for this, but it is easy to get caught up in the fun and forget to use caution. Besides the fact that many animals can cause severe and even fatal injuries, some of them carry deadly diseases. One in particular is a rather notorious virus that is widely feared but not completely understood: Rabies.

In the United States, there are five animals that are most commonly reported as having transmitted rabies to humans. These are raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats and coyotes, with raccoons being the most commonly diagnosed as rabid. In certain parts of the US, there are more cases of rabies being reported in one animal species than others. For example, the East Coast has more instances of rabies in raccoons than in any other animal. The Central US, however, reports more rabies in skunks. That said; if you or a family member is bitten by one of these animals in any part of the country, err on the side of caution and seek medical treatment.

There are some animals that are rumored to carry rabies, but, in reality, only rarely do. These include squirrels, rats, mice, chipmunks, rabbits, and hares. This does not mean that you may not require treatment if bitten by these; many physicians recommend at least a tetanus booster. Still, you should not feel obligated to capture or kill the animal to have it tested for rabies unless it was acting strangely prior to inflicting the bite. The possible exception to this is the groundhog (woodchuck), a rodent species that experienced a spike in infection between 1985 and 1994 and is still being monitored.

Many of the animals you will experience will have no risk of rabies. These include all birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects. Rabies is strictly a mammalian virus to which these creatures are immune. Again, that is not to say that being bitten by these will not require medical treatment, but you should not attempt to capture or harm them to verify rabies since there is no chance of infection.

Contrary to popular belief, a rabid animal is not necessarily an enraged animal. In some instances of rabies, the animal acts overly friendly, injured, confused, or may not seem infected at all. Seeing animals in atypical settings (a bat out in the day; a raccoon wandering into the campsite while everyone is right there before it; foxes that do not flee from humans), is a pretty good sign that something is wrong with the animal. Do not assume that the animal is, for some reason, "used to humans" or "tame" and attempt to handle it. This is a good way to get bitten and contract the virus.

The best way to prevent rabies on normal camping adventures is to basically follow the "don't touch it" rule and to emphasize its importance to any children that may be along on the trip. Additionally, it is always a good idea to keep your campfire area clean and store food properly. This way, you can avoid attracting raccoon families into the campsite and other more dangerous creatures (bears, coyotes).

If you plan to do any cave exploration or engage in other activities that will require you to frequent cave-like environments (abandoned buildings; for example), you may want to get a rabies pre-exposure vaccine beforehand. Colonies of bats frequently inhabit these places during the day, and, because of their large numbers in an enclosed area, the risk of exposure to rabies is greater.

If you are bitten by any wild animal, clean the wound thoroughly, disinfect it, and seek medical treatment as soon as possible, although some injuries are more urgent than others, of course (you probably should not call emergency assistance for a mouse bite, but still try to see a doctor soon).

If you suspect the animal of being rabid, you need to get to the hospital the day of exposure for treatment. If you are able to safely capture or kill the animal, you should bring it along for testing. This will prevent unnecessary treatment and medical bills along with potentially stopping the animal from further spreading it to other creatures. However, if attempting to capture the creature will further endanger you, then do not make a bad situation worse, and leave it alone.

Camping can be fun, but use good sense and caution to make sure it stays enjoyable. While rabies is a fatal disease, it can be easily avoided by doing some very simple things, most of which are common sense. Remember, wild animals are beautiful, but they are not pets. Be smart, and always enjoy them from a distance.

Further Information:
Rabies: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

More from this contributor:
The Poisonous Snakes of Tennessee

Can't Touch This: Ten Cute but Dangerous Animals

Invasion of the Body Snatchers: 12 Freaky Facts About Toxoplasmosis