A mother saved her young son from being attacked by a raccoon inside their home in Idaho, officials said.
At the time of the attack, the infant was sitting in a carrier and the mother had just returned home to calm down. According to Idaho Fish and Game.
“She heard a loud noise inside the house and ran to where the toddler was. The mother found a raccoon attacking her child. She grabbed the animal and stopped the attack. has been completed,” the press release states.
Officials say it's unclear how the animal got into the home.
Officials said the infant was taken to a local hospital for “undisclosed injuries” and then transferred to a hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The baby's father and a sheriff's deputy returned to the residence and discovered the raccoon was still inside. Officials said the two men killed the animal and no other raccoons were found inside. (Related: Raccoon reportedly attacked reporter on White House lawn).
'Very unusual' encounter in Idaho: mother finds raccoon attacking young son in baby carrier at home https://t.co/AcAifscMqM
— People (@people) December 28, 2024
“Fish and Game believes the raccoon killed by the infant's father was involved in the attack,” the press release added.
Idaho Fish and Game worked with South Central Public Health District staff to test the dog for rabies, which came back negative.
“Raccoons are a common species throughout Idaho, but reports of attacks on humans are extremely rare,” officials said. “Raccoons are generally shy and tend to avoid humans, but they can become aggressive if they feel threatened.”
Although it is known that raccoons can transmit rabies, there has only been one report of rabies in a raccoon in Idaho, officials added.
