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By Bob Weaver
Little Creek hunter and trapper Harold Stutler, in an effort to help
determine the spread of
the rabies outbreak into this area, recently provided five raccoon
heads for testing. None
proved positive for rabies, DNR biologist J. R. Hill in Parkersburg
told Conservation Officer
Tom Fox the cause of death was distemper.
Concerns for rabies in this area increased a couple weeks ago after a
fox tested positive for
the disease. The animal was killed near the Calhoun-Wirt line after it
acted strangely. Well
tender Ron Gherke and local resident Tim Carpenter climbed on a gas
separator to get
away from the fox, after which it was shot by Carpenter.
Most West Virginia counties (SEE map in earlier Hur Herald story) have
been declared part
of the rabies outbreak, which has been slowly moving for several years
from West to North
to South in the state.
Conservation Officer Tom Fox said he has received numerous calls about
sick raccoons, but
none had been in direct contact with humans or domestic animals and
were not tested.
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