Vancouver West End resident recounts experience with rabid skunk they helped capture
Last night, some Vancouver residents were startled after Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) sent out a public notice that a rabid skunk had bitten some people in the downtown Vancouver area.
VCH said that a “small number” of people were bitten.
We connected with the West End resident who helped capture the rabid animal and were bitten in the process.
We connected with Guerric, and we first asked if they were doing okay.
“I’m doing fine! I’ve received two PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) vaccines,” they said.
PEP is standard procedure for someone who already has rabies immunity, according to Guerric and reports from medical experts online. Guerric has worked with bats at the Vancouver Aquarium, so they had previously received some shots.
Guerric, who was a COPE Vancouver volunteer, found the rabid skunk near the corner of Comox and Bute on Saturday morning.
“It was curled up right next to the sidewalk in broad daylight, fidgeting at its right side as though it were trying to scratch an itch, ignoring the humans walking by.”
Guerric encounters lots of skunks during his morning jogs, and they are usually shy and rarely active so late in the morning.
“So I knew that this was very unusual.”
Guerric stopped to have a look at it, then it got up and staggered over before biting Guerric’s pant leg.
“Then it let go, swayed on its feet a bit like it was dizzy, then turned and bit my shoe. It was very sluggish and seemed confused.”
After the encounter, Guerric called the Critter Wildlife Society and told them what happened — which is, Guerric says, what anyone should do when they encounter wildlife behaving strangely.
They then called their partner to bring a carrier to help with the capture.
“We both wore thick, long leather gloves. My partner towelled the skunk and lifted it up, while I brought the carrier over to it, and we got the skunk in the carrier that way. After that, my partner went back home, and I stayed with the skunk until Critter Care’s volunteer arrived. We’ve both worked in animal care in the past, so it was very straightforward for us.”
Having worked in animal care in the past, Guerric has tended to a few injured animals. However, they’ve never been bitten by a wild animal or been exposed to rabies.
They weren’t scared, though.
“They may be stinky, but I don’t find skunks intimidating. When you look past the smell, they’re quite vulnerable little animals that can’t really hurt you.”
Guerric felt the skunk was in more danger than they were.
Be sure to read our previous article about the rabid skunk if you’re worried that you or your pet were exposed.