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(NECN: Kathryn Sotnik, Hingham, Mass.) – A Hingham, Mass. woman had a very frightening experience after police say a rabid raccoon made its way into her bed and attacked her.
Police say they received a call around 10:50 Wednesday morning from a 73-year-old resident who had barricaded herself in her bedroom.
The raccoon, according to animal control, walked into the home on Hersey Street through a small cat door.
Hingham Animal Control Officer Leslie Badger says the raccoon then, “made it’s way up onto the bed and then curled up and went to sleep.”
“It got into bed, and she thought it was her cat and started petting it,” said a neighbor who knows the victim well.
At that point, animal control says the raccoon attached itself to the woman’s face and started to attack her.
She was able to shoo the raccoon out of her bedroom. It was later found and captured in the bathroom.
However, the woman was found with bites and scratches to her lip and chin. Her thumbs were even slashed from trying to remove the raccoon from her face.
Thursday afternoon animal control confirms the raccoon, which they euthanized, tested positive for rabies.
The victim is now going through a series of painful rabies shots. She is home recovering and is in close contact with her doctor.
State Environmental Police also assisted with the removal of the raccoon. They’ve provided a raccoon fact sheet which you can find here.