Gretchen Whitted, 74 was attacked by 5 raccoons Saturday evening in Florida. She watched them in her back yard then move to her front yard, and then they hovered around her front door. Whitted opened the door to try to get them away, and they turned on her, biting and scratching her legs. She was taken to the hospital with extensive injuries, and she is having rabies treatment, according to UPI.
AP Photo.
Neighbors told CNN that there was blood everywhere, and she had cuts and bruises all over her legs. Whitted told the police that she wasn’t sure if she fell over her own feet or the raccoons. She also said that she thought the mother was protecting her young. The local police said that they have never seen a raccoon attack a human. They will search for the animals to see if they have rabies and they may be destroyed.
Many people in Utah keep raccoons as pets, but they are not demosticaed animals, and they have about 80% chance of carrying rabies, according to Utah State University. Adult raccoons typically weigh between 10-30 pounds, and adult males may occupy territories of 3-20 miles.
Recent articles from this examiner:
Weak economy forces closure of Gourmet, Cookie, Modern and Elegant Bride magazines
Ginkgo tress cut down from many US city streets
Australia takes on New Zealand for the final Champions trophy today Aus vs NZ
Woman killed by pet black bear in Pennsylvania
FBI removed Erin Andrews peephole video from internet sites
Michael Barrett arrested for posting Erin Andrews peephole video online
Department of Labor extends unemployment insurance October 4-January 2, 2010
Comments