A raccoon wandered into a home in Cassia County, Idaho, and attacked an infant lying in a carrier. The state’s Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) said the mother heard a loud noise and discovered the raccoon attacking her baby boy. She managed to stop the attack, and the child was taken to Cassia Regional Hospital in Burley for treatment before being transferred to a hospital in Salt Lake City for further care. The injuries sustained by the infant have not been disclosed.
The father of the infant and a sheriff’s deputy returned to the home and killed the raccoon. Officials said that the raccoon carcass was tested for rabies, and the results were negative. The IDFG’s Wildlife Human Attack Response Team was activated to ensure public safety and investigate the incident.
Raccoon attacks on humans are extremely rare in Idaho, and only one case of raccoon rabies has been documented in the state. The IDFG advises residents to take preventative measures to avoid wildlife encounters, such as securing garbage and removing food sources that might attract raccoons.
The IDFG emphasized that raccoons are generally shy and avoid humans but can become aggressive if they feel threatened. The department encourages homeowners to block potential entryways to prevent raccoons from entering homes.
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