Lakeland, FL takes the cake again - Raccoons Attack Woman!

[annaes]

http://www.theledger.com/article/200...South-Lakeland

{Muffled cries for help sent Christy Steinmetz running out her back patio and to the aid of her 74-year-old neighbor, who was covered in blood after being mauled by a family of raccoons in a South Lakeland neighborhood. .art_main_pic { width:250px; float:left; clear:left; }
Gretchen Whitted, of 1210 Waterford Drive was attacked about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, officials said. She was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center's trauma unit where she is in stable condition.
Whitted's injuries were extensive. Bites to her neck, chest, legs and back were numerous. The raccoons - an adult and four juveniles - also bit and scraped her back and head, officials said.
The raccoon bites left long, gaping wounds on Whitted's legs, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
"I've been a hunter all my life and I've never heard of raccoons attacking in a mob like this," he said.
While her wounds are expected to heal, the attack will have a lasting emotional and physical impact.
Steinmetz was inside her home when she heard a curious noise outside.
Steinmetz, who lives across the street from Whitted, ran as fast as she could.
"I was just reacting," she said.
When Steinmetz got to Whitted, she was covered in blood and she saw at least three raccoons running away, ducking into a storm drain in front of Whitted's home.
Lakeland police, fire and Polk County EMS were called to the scene, said Jack Gillen, a spokesman for the Lakeland Police Department.
Lakeland police called Polk County's animal control for assistance.
Whitted told officials she saw the brood near her back patio and shooed them away.
Minutes later, Whitted saw them at her front door and again tried to run the raccoons off, but they attacked.
During the attack, Whitted fell, and the raccoons continued their assault, Judd said.
"They enveloped her," he said.
Animal Control deputies have now placed nearly a dozen traps throughout the neighborhood and baited them with a mixture of wet cat food and sardines.
While it was not known if the raccoons were rabid, officials don't think they are.
"From initial reports, this looks like a defensive bite - a momma raccoon protecting her young," said Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "But the severity was probably made worse when the victim fell to the ground, making her a more vulnerable target."
But with the dense population of the neighborhood, deputies weren't taking any chances, Judd said Sunday.
The Lakeland Fire Department flushed the storm drains, but no raccoons were found.
On Sunday, residents milled about while media outlets and deputies swarmed the normally quiet neighborhood.
Judd said he was responding to the incident with full force, hoping to avoid any further attacks, especially on the many children who live in the neighborhood.
Morse, along with Dr. Daniel Haight, director of the Polk County Health Department, warned residents against going near any wild animals.
Haight said, while uncommon, rabies poses a serious threat to people if they are bitten by an infected animal and report it immediately.
"Rabies in Polk County has been generally declining over the past 10 years," he said.
If you are bitten, it is ideal to contain the animal for testing. If that is not possible, as with Whitted's case, get vaccinated.}




Wow. I mentioned in another thread that this is my hometown (I moved ASAP), but the crazy stories never end from this place. It's like the epicenter of odd news. This is the same town as the where the cops played Wii during a drug bust.

[Pippi]

How horrible!

[ilovepinkhearts]

wow...vicious raccoons! i hope she makes a full recovery!

i have been chased by an armadillo and hissed at [scary] but i ran to the restroom [we were camping] and waited for what felt like forever and then it went away.

[Jahpson]

see, everyone think raccoons and squirrels are cute fuzzy little animals. I don't trust them at all.

if I see one coming, Im getting out of their way

[carousel eyes]

I saw this on the news the other day, how horrible! I have to be honest though, if I saw this in real life, I'd have to laugh at first. It's just so obscure and unbelievable.

[yeliab]

Oh no, Hope this woman makes a full recovery! That's so horrible!

I hope they don't kill the raccoons... I hope they trap them and move them somewhere else into the woods.

[olialm1]

A squirrel chased me at the Lincoln Park Zoo when I was younger. I ran for my life!

[LV-PRADAfanatic]

very sad... hope she recocver..

[surferchick2]

Thats too bad. I'm glad the lady got help early and will recover. We have raccoons, weasels, and otters that come up to our deck. Even though they're usually afraid of humans, you can't take a chance, especially when their instinct is to protect their babies.