Man bitten by rabid raccoon while attempting to ‘rescue’ it

A stock photo of a raccoon. (Unsplash/fr0ggy5)

ROSWELL, Ga. (WRCB) -- The Chattahoochee Nature Centre (CNC) is reminding the public of the dangers of rabies after a man unsafely brought a rabid raccoon to their shelter.

In a social media post, they said they don’t intend to shame or embarrass, but wanted to tell the full story as a cautionary tale.

A gentleman in Cherokee County, GA found a raccoon vocalizing in the road earlier this week.

“Not having anything to contain it, he wrapped it in his coat and held it against his chest as he drove for over an hour to CNC,” the post said.

The centre is not licenced for raccoon rehab, and only accepts raptors, reptiles, and amphibians.

During the drive, the raccoon freed its head and bit the man on the face and hands.

He drove back home, wrapped the raccoon in a blanket with duct tape, and continued to the center.

“He arrived an hour before the Wildlife Clinic opens, just as children were arriving for CNC Camp Kingfisher’s Thanksgiving Break camp. The Camp Director radioed Wildlife to alert us to the situation. Wildlife staff met the finder in the parking lot with a kennel to secure the animal. After much forceful insistence on our part, he finally agreed to go to the hospital for treatment while we dealt with the raccoon.”

Partners at a nearby veterinary hospital agreed to accept the raccoon for euthanasia and submission to the Cherokee County Health Department. They say it had to be killed to be tested.

Fewer than 48 hours later, the centre learned the raccoon tested positive for rabies.

The condition of the man, who refused to identify himself to staff or the hospital, is unknown.