CITY WARNS OF ANIMALS SEEKING SHELTER IN TOWN

  

The recent storms have opened more than just the flood gates at lakes and rivers around the state, they’ve also pushed wildlife toward higher grounds and into town. Residents have reported seeing snakes on porches, and the City’s Animal Control Services have been called out repeatedly on skunks and other wildlife calls.

“The flooding is driving more of the wildlife into town, and that has meant for us, more interaction between that wildlife and domestic pets,” Amanda Carker, Animal Control supervisor said.

It’s also meant an increase in confirmed rabies cases, she added.

“We’ve had a total of nine confirmed cases in Washington County already this year. In 2014, we only had a total of eight. We are an endemic county for rabies, so it’s not unusual for us to have some reported cases but not this high so early on in the year.

“The Texas Department of State Health Services relaunched its aerial assault on rabies through an airdrop of millions of edible doses of rabies vaccine on wildlife habitats in January. Brenham and Washington County were included in that airdrop. While that is certainly one way to reduce the risk of exposure to rabies, the best and most effective way is for our residents to vaccine their own domestic pets and livestock,” Carker said.

Carker also encouraged residents to remind their children not to pet an animal they don’t know, especially a wild animal.

“Little kitties and puppies – and even baby skunks – are cute and kids are always enchanted with them. But if the animal isn’t rabies vaccinated, it can possibly expose a child to the disease. We would love to see 100% of our pets and livestock vaccinated,” she said.

Anyone coming into contact with wildlife, or seeing one exhibiting unusual behavior, should contact Brenham Animal Control at 979-337-7272. If it’s an emergency, call 911.