BRADENTON BEACH – A Palm Harbor woman was recently hospitalized after being attacked by raccoons.
Bradenton Beach Police Officer Devon Straight responded to the Oct. 7 incident at the Tradewinds Resort, 1603 Gulf Drive.
The reporting person, whose name was not given in the police report, told Straight he had heard screaming coming from the resort’s pool area and went to investigate. He found the victim, Beverly Murphy, 59, on the ground calling for help with several raccoons around her. He said the raccoons ran away when help arrived on the scene. The caller and some other guests of the resort took Murphy inside a room to assist her in treating her wounds until EMS arrived.
“I spoke with Beverly, who stated she was chased by the group of raccoons before falling down and landing on her wrist, which was possibly broken as a result,” Straight said in his report. “While on the ground, the raccoons continued to bite and scratch both of her legs, leaving multiple wounds.”
Straight searched the area but was unable to find the raccoons. He said there is no way to know if the attack was because of a possible rabies infection, or the animals getting used to being fed by humans, though he said the latter was the more likely scenario.
Before becoming a police officer, Straight worked with his grandparents at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc., a Bradenton Beach wild animal rehabilitation organization.
EMS arrived and transported Murphy to HCA Florida Blake Hospital for treatment. Manatee County Animal Control was called but did not respond to the scene. The Sun contacted Manatee County Animal Welfare about the incident but did not receive a statement before press time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), raccoon attacks on humans are rare, but can occur even if the animal is not rabid. This is mostly due to people feeding them, making the animals more comfortable around people than they naturally should be. A rabid raccoon is usually dead within one to three days of becoming infectious, and if bitten by a rabid raccoon, effective post-exposure treatment is available.
The CDC says to observe a raccoon’s behavior before calling for assistance. Look for:
• Staggering gait;
• An animal seemingly oblivious to noise or nearby movement;
• Erratic wandering;
• Discharge from eyes or mouth;
• Wet and matted hair on face;
• Repeated high-pitch vocalization;
• Self-mutilation;
• Unprovoked aggression.
A raccoon showing these signs may be rabid or infected with canine distemper or feline parvovirus. Call animal control or the police department if concerned.
