According to The Bethlehem Police blog, "In the past few weeks, there have been reports of daylight sightings of foxes and other wild animals in Bethlehem and throughout the LehighValley."I've seen nothing unusual in my daily walks and runs along the bike paths, except for those damn Canada Geese.
By the way, they don't get rabies. Only we mammals can be members of that club. Still, Canada Geese get very aggressive this time of year, and chase me all over the place. They are only protecting their cute little goslings. In another month, when those goslings become teenagers and start smoking weed, the Geese won't give a shit. They'll push the little brats right in front of me.
Several people have asked whether I already have rabies since I'm a real bad ass and do froth at the mouth. No worries. My head was cut off and sent in for testing last year.
The lab found absolutely nothing.
What are the signs of a rabid animal?
"The first sign of rabies is usually a change in an animal’s behavior. A rabid animal may become either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame. It may lose fear of people and become excited and irritable or appear friendly and affectionate. Adults should encourage children to immediately tell an adult if an animal has bitten them and to refrain from touching unfamiliar animals."
Do pigs get it ?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read, it is very rare in a pig. So it's got that going for it.
ReplyDeleteAnother otter post! That foaming little bastard!
ReplyDeleteThat does include your gerbil collection O'Hare.
ReplyDeleteFoxes being out in the daytime is not unnatural behavior or a sign of rabies, for your & your readers' (and the Bethlehem police's?) information.
ReplyDeleteI hit post too soon.
DeleteFoxes can be out in the daytime but normally they will avoid people and human activity. So, a fox running for the bushes in the afternoon is probably not cause for concern.... But as with most wild animals, if it doesn't appear afraid of you or if it's aggressive, it may very well be sick and worth reporting (and running away).
capri, i don't know if you have ever come face to face with a fox, but i have, twice, in the last month, in a spot where i have never seen one before. i assure you if it was aggressive, you could not outrun it. i don't fault any police department from erring on the side of caution, on the contrary, with two attacks so far from rabid foxes.
ReplyDeleteMM,
ReplyDeleteAre you sure those weren't gracedale union thugs?
Another Allentown social program?
ReplyDeleteAs an avid outdoorsman and hunter I would give everyone the same advice when it comes to wild animals. Leave them alone. Enjoy them from a safe distance and do not attempt to handle them. I have seen tens of thousands of animals in the wild during my more than fifty years of hunting and only once have I seen an animal that was questionable. That was a fox and it had the mange.Respect wildlife and if you are ever in doubt, leave their area and call the property authorities. The same thing goes for cats and dogs.
ReplyDeleteBernie...point of order...Old Yeller contracted rabies from a wild boar attack.
ReplyDeleteanon 9:20, a growing issue in the city and suburbs is "safe distance" foxes are turning up in back yards and other residential areas, where small domestic pets and children normally play. when residents call police for help, they're asked about the health of the fox. a new pro-active policy seems to be in order. if the naturalists don't want to shoot the foxes, then the municipalities should be prepared to trap and remove the animals, rather than submit residents to the risk of rabies.
ReplyDeleteC, Good point. I did read that rabies is rare in pigs.
ReplyDeleteHow about County Controllers? What are the signs of rabies in a county controller?
ReplyDeleteGood site to learn about rabies:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cdc.gov/rabies/
A post on Rabies? Come on Bernie, where is the expose where you take King Palowski to task for raping Bethlehem Township's citizens, per capita, about a dime a year. We need more fake outrage--and fast! J'accuse!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is not just what is being stolen right now, but 30 years into the future. If I seal a dime or $1MM, i is still stealing.
ReplyDeleteIf your defense is that King Edwin s not stealing a lot, that's a pretty shitty defense.
gracedale union goons, king edwin,
ReplyDeletepolitical fake controller - all wolves in sheep's clothing but not smart enough to think we don't see the truth
On the subject of geese. An official in the Pawlowski administration, who has now relocated, once told me an interesting story. Apparently there is a firm that in the dark of night will visit strategic locations in Allentown known for prolific geese populations. The geese are kidnapped, butchered, and then appropriately dressed for human consumption. They seem to find their way to venues where the homeless are offered meals.
ReplyDeleteHonest - I wonder at times if he was just trying to get my "gander" or if in fact, in a weak moment, he disclosed the truth. Only the administration knows for sure!
PA Dutch Shaman
ok, let me multiply out the $0.10 x 30 years = $3.00. I guarantee you that I lose $3.00 in loose change over the course of a year. And, sure, a theft occurred here, but it happened in 1965 when the 'burbs took the money originally. Now the city is just asking for literal ten-thousands of a penny on the dollar back. Sheesh. Whenever you discuss these numbers it would be wise to do it per capita so people realize how little of their tax is actually being diverted. Even in Parkland school district (the biggest per capita loser) is only like $4 a year. I'd hope the wealthy denizens of that district (myself included) are willing to forgo $4 for something that could totally revitalize the downtown and increase the quality of life for so many. As well as bringing in good construction jobs for my neighbors. And providing Ice hockey. Definitely worth $4 a year in my book. And ABSOLUTELY worth $0.10 a year for Bethlehem township. What a silly waste of time and money that lawsuit is!
ReplyDeleteAlso, yeah, in some metaphysical world, your crime of stealing $0.10 versus a million dollars is a crime--maybe. But, here in the real world, the crime for stealing a dime is nothing because no D.A. in the world would waste the resources to prosecute it. Whereas if you stole $1,000,000 there would be a prosecution and the statutory penalties would be higher because the law does recognizes different penalties for increasing amounts of theft. To get worked up over the loss of a dime is the height of kindergarden-level immaturity.
ReplyDeleteAnyone that thinks minor league hockey will revitalize Allentown isn't capable of arguing over money. People don't stay overnight to view the Flyers, much less the Phantoms and there will be only approx. 40 games. Hotel is a waste and venue will be hard to book against the Sands, Zoellner, Stabler and other established venues.
ReplyDeleteAnyway what does that have to do with rabies, a legitimate problem?
ReplyDeleteAbout a year ago, my daughter came home to find a dead raccoon inside the dog pen, with her two dogs. She lives in Centre County. She is a veterinarian, and she thought the behavior of the racoon in coming inside the enclosure, was out of character, and the animal had not been killed by the dogs. So she packed the little beast up and took him to the state lab, where the results determined the racoon was indeed rabid. They told her that rabies was a problem all over Pennsylvania, at a rate above typical years past. The dogs were up to date on their rabies shots, but had to be quarantined until November. So, this does not come out of the blue.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:52 -
ReplyDeleteIf the money is so inconsequential, take the local EIT grab out of the law.
I'm not sure what delusion you're living under to think the suburbs have taken money from the city.
If you think Allentown's been short-changed as far as assistance, I suggest you buy an Allentown budget book. They get enough federal and state grant money in a year to make the suburbs weep. Then multiply that annual figure by decades.
"no D.A. in the world would waste the resources to prosecute it."
ReplyDeleteahem... many prosecutions are all about PRINCIPLES.
oh yea, and:"To get worked up over the loss of a dime is the height of kindergarden-level immaturity."
You are wrong again.
It's criminal for any gubernment employee to steal ANYTHING.
(even a couple trash baseballs and and a popsicle - ask the council and the police chief)
Principles have gone the way of honesty.
LOL great job Bernie....taking a walk off the beaten path. Honestly Im with ou on the Canadian geese...they are super aggressive and scary! I have been chased by a momma myself and it is no joke...they are screaming, flailing and on the hunt for the trespasser on their family's turf! It's kind of like being in Bethlehem and dealing with Abe Attiyeh!!!
ReplyDelete