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Providence woman attacked by raccoon while pulling weeds in backyard
WJAR • • health
Key Points:
- Catherine Bodner of Providence was attacked by a raccoon while pulling weeds in her backyard on the evening of August 3, resulting in injuries that required hospital treatment.
- Bodner received immediate care at Miriam Hospital and has begun a series of rabies vaccinations and antibiotics after the incident.
- Rhode Island State Epidemiologist Dr. Suzanne Bornschein highlighted that unusual daytime activity in raccoons may indicate rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal without timely treatment.
- The Rhode Island Department of Health has reported an increase in rabies-positive animals this year, despite a stable number of animals being tested.
- Bodner advises caution when encountering aggressive raccoons, recommending carrying a large stick to defend oneself.
