Raccoon brought to North Dakota bar tests negative for rabies

MADDOCK, N.D. — The

raccoon that was put down

after a

girl introduced him into the Maddock metropolis bar

has examined detrimental for rabies, the North Dakota Division of Well being introduced Friday, Sept. 16.

The raccoon was put down to check him for rabies on Sept. 14 by the Benson County Sheriff’s Workplace after the proprietor, Erin Christensen, was arrested on suspicion of offering false data to regulation enforcement, tampering with proof and North Dakota Sport & Fish violations, in response to a press release from the Benson County Sheriff’s Workplace.

You will need to take a look at raccoons for rabies instantly after they arrive into contact with people, the Division of Well being stated in a launch.

An commentary interval for animals like canine, cats and ferrets is enough to rule out rabies publicity.

“Sadly, with most different mammals, the interval of viral shedding is just not understood properly sufficient to permit for dependable commentary intervals,” stated Amanda Bakken, epidemiologist with the Division of Well being.

Christensen, 38, of Maddock, reportedly introduced the raccoon into the Maddock Bar late Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Bar administration instantly advised the girl that she needed to depart, and she or he proceeded to point out a couple of bar patrons the raccoon earlier than bar supervisor Cindy Smith was in a position to corral her out the door, Smith stated.

The raccoon by no means touched the ground or one other buyer, in response to Smith. She stated the animal “positively did not chunk anybody.”

It’s unlawful to personal a raccoon in North Dakota due to the danger of rabies, in response to North Dakota Sport & Fish.

Christensen believes that the Benson County police needlessly killed the raccoon, she stated in a GoFundMe.

Regardless of it being unlawful, Christensen’s household maintains within the GoFundMe that they supposed to rehabilitate the raccoon.

North Dakota is the one state within the nation with out permitted wildlife/mammal rescue and rehabilitation services, in response to the Wildlife Middle of North Dakota, a nonprofit in search of to alter that state of affairs.