A mother in Idaho bravely saved her baby from a raccoon attack within their home, with the assistance of the baby’s father and a sheriff’s deputy who later eliminated the threat.
On Monday, Dec. 23, law enforcement and wildlife officials in Idaho were alerted to a concerning situation when a mother reported a loud noise in her home. Upon investigation, she found a raccoon attacking her infant son, as detailed in a release from Idaho Fish and Game on Dec. 27.
A mother intervened to halt the animal assault, and her son was taken to Cassia Regional Hospital in Burley for unspecified injuries before being moved to a facility in Salt Lake City.
Officials reported that a sheriff’s deputy, accompanied by the baby’s father, returned to the residence, found the animal, and subsequently put it down. IDFG observed that the method by which the raccoon entered the residence remains uncertain. The department is “confident” that the animal killed was the same one that attacked the baby, as no other raccoons were found inside.
The Idaho Bureau of Laboratories has conducted tests on the animal’s carcass for rabies, and the results have returned negative.
“Once notified of the incident, staff from the Magic Valley Region activated their Wildlife Human Attack Response Team,” the IDFG wrote in the release. “This specially trained team of department staff has the responsibility to act to protect the safety of the public and incident responders; attempt to identify, locate, and control the animal(s) involved in a human-wildlife incident; and conduct, document and report investigative findings.”
According to the IDFG, incidents of raccoon attacks on people in the state are “very uncommon,” with “just one documented case of raccoon rabies” in Idaho. These creatures tend to be reserved, often steering clear of human interaction, and may display aggression when they perceive a threat.
The IDFG urged residents of Idaho to “always avoid intentionally feeding a raccoon.”
“As with all wildlife that can be found around homes in Idaho, the best course of action to avoid raccoon encounters is to take preventative actions before a problem starts,” the department wrote. “Raccoons can live in a variety of habitats, but an area with access to water and food will attract them.”
“A homeowner can limit food sources by securing residential garbage, removing any fallen fruit or rotten produce from your yard or garden, feeding pets indoors, keeping pet food securely stored, and removing or securing bird feeders,” IDFG added. “Blocking raccoon access to hiding places in sheds and outbuildings and sealing off potential entryways and exits in and around a home will also discourage raccoon use.”