Rabies shots sure sting!!!!

[3 Hawks]

I learned a valuable lesson today…….Don’t blindly shove your hands into den sized holed in trees because the critter living there might bite you.

One series of Rabies shots down and only four more series to go over the next 28 days.

Additionally, I learned there is a massive shortage of the Rabies vaccine in these parts. The hospital I visited did not have any in house and they had to call 5 other hospitals to obtain my fist series.

My wife asked it this experience would keep me from caching…..Of course, my answer was “Heck No!”

Be smart out there and let my series of poor choices serve as a lesson to all.

Keep it safe out there and happy caching!!!

[zuma]

@3 Hawks wrote:

I learned a valuable lesson today…….Don’t blindly shove your hands into den sized holed in trees because the critter living there might bite you.

One series of Rabies shots down and only four more series to go over the next 28 days.

Additionally, I learned there is a massive shortage of the Rabies vaccine in these parts. The hospital I visited did not have any in house and they had to call 5 other hospitals to obtain my fist series.

My wife asked it this experience would keep me from caching…..Of course, my answer was “Heck No!”

Be smart out there and let my series of poor choices serve as a lesson to all.

Keep it safe out there and happy caching!!!

Thanks for sharing your story, as this could happen to any of us. I usually try to find a stick to shove into a hole before blindly putting my hand into tree holes, but it is the time that you dont do it that ya get bit.

zuma

[TheBalks]

What bit you?

[marc_54140]

That’s why I usually cache in a group – someone else to stick his or her hand in!

[furfool]

I have used thick leather welders’ gloves in the past to remove the occasional squirrel from a trap. The thing bit down on it, but it’s teeth couldn’t penetrate the leather. I don’t think I would try it on anything much bigger.

I also remember when I was a kid working on a farm, we were tying cauliflower and a coworker reached in to check a head and was bitten by a bat. He went against everyone’s advice to go to the hospital. He got lucky though. He’s still around.

I was thinking of the situation that you find yourself in when I was caching in West Bend last Saturday. There were two seperate caches that I reached into tree holes to retrieve. Like Zuma, I usually try to use a stick to poke around a bit, but I was in too big of a hurry because nature was calling.

I hope everything goes good for you. Any idea what bit you?

[Lostby7]

The sticking in of the hand is the main reason I end up DNFing so many caches….I’m a coward. Sorry to hear about the shots.

[Decrepit]

I too, try to find a stick when approching holes in trees. Last year when caching all down the Mississippi, I also had to remind myself to use a stick when digging around in rocks. I certainly didn’t want to have an encounter with some poisonous snake. An easy thing to forget when we really don’t have to worry much about that here.

[3 Hawks]

@TheBalks wrote:

What bit you?

Since my finger is still attached, I’d have to guess I was bitten by a squirrel. The bite marks from the canines of one of the jaws were about an inch apart and I had bite marks on both sides of the widest part of my index finger. Thankfully, it appears to be a defensive bite and it just hit and let go.

I usually carry a walking stick for poking around in holes, but I was in a rush and threw caution to the wind.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Glad to hear you were able to get the treatment fairly quickly. We’ve reached into spots, but unless I can see just where my hand is going….I look for a stick. Our neighbor got bitten by a bat many years ago and never had to complete the treatment, as her titer or whatever it is returned to acceptable levels after one or two courses of the shots. Maybe you’ll have similar luck.

The snake thing in the rocks is a regular concern for us, of course.

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

That is pretty muct the same reason that I DNF’d a lot of caches in Florida. I do not like those legless reptiles and besides the cache is in a good location and that is the reason we go find them right?

[Team Deejay]

You know, this is what happens when you go caching in Illinois. I understand that these flatlanders have nothing better to do than follow around Wisconsinites and stash live (and dead) rodents in cache hiding spots as we approach. Next time, you better just head north!

[The Crippler]

Last September, in Illinois of all places, I reached into the crotch of a tree to retrieve a cache that I could see just a tiny bit of. When I reached around for the container I touched fur and heard a loud growl. Turns out an oppossum was sleeping there too. Since that time I have brought leather gloves along and use sticks to poke around as well. These things are not just in critter holes, remember to look in all concealled places before placing your hand in there.

[brkster]

Thanks for sharing that Matt, and sorry to hear about your experience. Like Zuma stated, that could have happened to any of us. Not only have I blindly put my hand into holes looking for caches, but also to check them out for possible hiding spots. Sometimes we get so pre-occupied in what we’re doing while out on the trails. This will make me think twice at least before doing that any more.

[SammyClaws]

@Team Deejay wrote:

You know, this is what happens when you go caching in Illinois. I understand that these flatlanders have nothing better to do than follow around Wisconsinites and stash live (and dead) rodents in cache hiding spots as we approach. Next time, you better just head north!

There is a whole thread on GC.com about hampster caching. I hear that it originated in Illinois.

[elfdoctors]

I just heard that the shortage of rabies immune globulin and vaccine had lifted and that adequate supplies were around.

The new rabies shots hurt far less than the old ones. The old ones were extremely high in potassium and really irritated the nerves around them.

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