Raccoon That Bit Elderly Woman Tests Positive For Rabies

An 88-year-old woman was bit several times by a raccoon that followed her cat inside her house Sunday night.

Hamden police responded to a Brinsmade Road residence at about 11 p.m. Sunday night on the report of a wild animal attack, according to a police press release.

Police said the woman heard a sound at the sliding glass door and she subsequently opened the door to allow her cat inside. A raccoon followed her cat inside and moments later the woman attempted to pet, what she thought was her cat, according to police.

The raccoon then attacked her, biting her on the elbow, hand, forearm, lip and chin, police said.

Upon the arrival of police, the raccoon charged at two officers, and the police euthanized the raccoon before it inflicted further damage.

The Hamden Animal Control Division has transported the raccoon to the Connecticut Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing, according to police.

The victim was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment and has since been released.

(Patch file photo: Raccoon).

UPDATE: Tuesday, 5 p.m.

According to Hamden police, the raccoon tested positive for rabies.

Here’s the full press release:

This morning the Hamden Animal Control Division was notified by the Connecticut Public Health Laboratory that the raccoon that attacked the elderly Brinsmade Road resident had tested positive for the rabies virus.

The victim and her family were notified immediately. Investigation revealed that no officer had direct contact with the raccoon.