Raccoons Keep Attacking People In Polk County, Florida; Dept. of Health Issues Rabies

[roadmaster]

On Thursday, November 14, 2019, PCSO Animal Control responded to the Providence neighborhood in Davenport, in reference to a 15-year-old boy who was bitten by a sick raccoon.The boy’s grandmother told Animal Control that he was bitten on the hand after he saw the sick raccoon and approached it.

The raccoon was sent to the state laboratory in Tampa to be tested for rabies, and was confirmed two days later.

“It is imperative that children are told to avoid animals like bats, raccoons, and foxes out in the wild, and let me be clear—these animals are wildlife. If you see one in distress, leave it alone and contact Polk County Animal Control immediately,” Grady Judd, Sheriff said."

[Common]

Theyre having a fox problem in florida, they are everywhere and they are attacking pets outside doing their business etc. The problem is in populated areas also, not jusst rural.

[donttread]

On Thursday, November 14, 2019, PCSO Animal Control responded to the Providence neighborhood in Davenport, in reference to a 15-year-old boy who was bitten by a sick raccoon.The boy’s grandmother told Animal Control that he was bitten on the hand after he saw the sick raccoon and approached it.

The raccoon was sent to the state laboratory in Tampa to be tested for rabies, and was confirmed two days later.

“It is imperative that children are told to avoid animals like bats, raccoons, and foxes out in the wild, and let me be clear—these animals are wildlife. If you see one in distress, leave it alone and contact Polk County Animal Control immediately,” Grady Judd, Sheriff said."

Was this kid OK mentally? Neither the idea of giving wild animals a wide birth nor raccoon rabies are exactly well hidden concepts.

[Admiral Ackbar]

It figures. Polk County is the most ignorant of all Florida Counties.

[Standing Wolf]

Was this kid OK mentally? Neither the idea of giving wild animals a wide birth nor raccoon rabies are exactly well hidden concepts.

The human reaction to seeing any animal in need is to try to help. I recall an incident a few years ago where a man saved a 400-pound black bear from drowning by swimming out and grabbing ahold of it. How nuts is that? Compared with that, getting a little too close to a sick raccoon doesn't seem that unreasonable or reckless.