08-10-2012 Second Advisory Rabid Deer

          August 10, 2012.

PRESS RELEASE

The Parker County Sheriff’s Office has issued a second public awareness statement involving a rabid deer.

Sheriff Fowler said the infected deer was found in southwestern ParkerCounty earlier this month.

Sheriff’s Animal Control Officers were notified by the Texas Department of State Health Services that the sick deer was discovered at Sugar Tree Golf Course, Aug. 2, 2012, has tested positive for rabies.

The young male deer was found by a citizen laying on the golf course and displayed clinical symptoms of rabies. The buck was humanely euthanized and tested by a state laboratory.

Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, officials verified the positive test results.

An investigation revealed the deer had displayed rabies symptoms prior to the original suspected date. Officials have moved the initial contact date with the deer to the first week of July.

Anyone having possible contact with the spike deer with damage to his right antler near Sugar Tree Golf Course and housing subdivision from July 7, through Aug. 2, 2012, is urged to contact Nick Ferguson with the Zoonoses Program with the Texas Department of State Health Services in Abilene at (325) 795-5857, or Parker County Sheriff’s Animal Control Supervisor Karen Kessler at (817) 594-8845.