'Sick' Raccoons Killed After Attacking Cops, May Have Rabies, Police Say

In the span of four days in Hopatcong, police were forced to shoot three raccoons that may have contracted rabies and acting aggressively toward residents, Hopatcong Police said.

On Oct. 17, police were dispatched to a home on Brown Trail for a report of a sick raccoon, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. The raccoon was allegedly rolling on its back and walking in circles, and had jumped into the lap of the homeowner a few nights earlier, Kmetz said.

At that point, Officer Kern shot the animal and turned it over to the town’s animal control officer for testing, Kmetz said.

Just four days later, on Oct. 21, police responded to a home on Randolph Avenue for two sick raccoons, Kmetz said. While on scene, one of the raccoons charged Officer Cirri, which resulted in the officer and Sgt. Wojtach shooting and killing both animals. Both were given to Animal Control. Residents in the area reported seeing two, possibly three other raccoons in the area that may be sick, Kmetz said.

None of the tests results have been returned.

Anyone who may have come in contact with a rabid animal’s saliva needs to seek medical treatment immediately, as the disease is fatal.

For questions about this post, email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.

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