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The practical takeaway here underscores the advice in Auerbach's authoritative text Wilderness Medicine. If a person interacts with potentially rabid animals and that interaction results in even the smallest scratch or contact with saliva the victim should undergo rabies treatment and if possible have the animal undergo necroscopy.

The odds of surviving rabies once it becomes symptomatic are negligible. They can throw the hail Mary from the 5 yard line in a snowstorm but the chances of winning the game with it are slim.