Defend your farm against rabies

Here are simple steps you can take to keep rabies-carrying wildlife away from your property.

Keeping all wildlife away from your horse may seem like a logical defense against rabies. But as a practical matter, that’s just not possible. A better approach is to make your property as uninviting as possible to such visitors. Here are a few suggestions:

A raccoon, an animals that can carry rabies, walking through the woods — Making your property inhospitable to wildlife is a good defense against rabies.

• Store grain securely and neatly. Spilled or otherwise accessible feed is the wildlife equivalent of an “open for business” sign on your barn. Apply the same standards to your hayloft, keeping stacks tidy and doing a thorough cleaning at least twice a year.

• Tear down abandoned buildings. A dilapidated shed you never venture into is a haven for wildlife that could harbor rabies. If you have a shed that’s unused but still in good repair, find a use for it that has you entering several times a week in a loud and obvious fashion. Regular disturbances will likely cause animals to relocate.

Click here to read a more in-depth article on rabies in horses.

• Consider adopting a dog. If you don’t already have a regular canine patrol of your property, look into that option. Of course, you never want a dog to encounter a rabid animal, but a vigilant presence may discourage animals from moving into the territory in the first place.

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