A quiet Thursday night in North Miami’s Keystone neighborhood turned violent when a woman stepped outside to check on a trapped raccoon and was suddenly attacked by three others, leaving her with severe trauma. She is being treated at Ryder Trauma Center while wildlife officers work to piece together what happened.
The resident had hired a professional trapper and already had a nuisance raccoon secured in the backyard. When she went out to investigate, North Miami Council Member Kevin Burns said “three additional raccoons came under the fence and attacked the individual, causing severe trauma.” Burns added, “We have a large raccoon population,” and said he has been flooded with worried messages from neighbors, according to Local 10.
FWC Response and Health Alerts
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told Local 10 that raccoons are intelligent animals and warned that “a panicked raccoon can bite.” The agency said the county health department has been notified and that “FWC Wildlife Assistance biologists will be providing the injured party and neighbors with technical assistance and guidance for prevention of further conflicts with raccoons,” according to Local 10.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Pets
If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention right away. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that rabies is a preventable viral disease that requires prompt evaluation for postexposure prophylaxis, according to the CDC.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urges residents not to feed wildlife and to secure attractants such as trash and pet food in order to reduce conflicts with raccoons, according to the FWC. The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County provides reporting options and rabies resources for local residents who may have been exposed, according to DOH-Miami-Dade.
