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Two attacked by bobcats

By PHIL SARATA, T&D Staff Writer  Thursday, May 07, 2009 

BRANCHVILLE — Two Branchville men have reported being attacked by bobcats.

While at least one of the men undergoes rabies treatment, officials are trying to figure out if one or two felines were involved in the separate attacks.

Both attacks took place in Branchville, the first around 9 p.m. Tuesday and the second shortly after midnight. The bobcat in the first attack was able to escape. The bobcat in the second attack didn’t.

Both attacks left the victims with injuries that required medical attention. One man required stitches.

Hugo D. Valentine says he was informed by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control late Thursday afternoon the animal that attacked him had rabies.

Describing the attack, Valentine said, “I was clearing a piece of land off Old Orangeburg Road with a backhoe Tuesday night. Me and some friends had piled up the debris and were burning it.

“Around 12:30, I felt something on my leg. I looked down and a bobcat had latched onto my thigh. I grabbed it by the ears and tried to hold it on the ground. We were able to pin the front paws down but it was still trying to bite me. Even though my friend was standing on its back legs, the bobcat’s back claws were still scratching up my hands. It died before I could get my knife. It looked as though we had smothered it.”

Valentine said he was treated at a hospital.

“All I have are scratches on my hand and teeth marks in my thigh,” Valentine said. “They treated the wounds and gave me a shot of antibiotics on the left side of my butt.

“I brought the cat to the hospital. I spoke to a DHEC representative and I was asked to put the head on ice so it could be tested for rabies. Once DHEC told me it did have rabies, my doctor started my treatment.”

DHEC spokesman Thom Berry said that he had not been able to confirm with Orangeburg DHEC officials the dead bobcat had tested positive for rabies as of early Thursday evening.

“If the case involves a human, we would recommend that the individual proceed with a rabies treatment, just to be on the safe side,” Berry said.

Branchville police say that an ambulance had responded to the scene of an earlier bobcat attack at 9:17 p.m. on Smoak Street.

Branchville Town Clerk Treesa Suggs said that victim suffered injuries to his arms and head.

“He came by town hall (Thursday),” Suggs said. “He had about 16 stitches in his head and several more in both his arms.”

Attempts to reach the victim were unsuccessful.

Bobcat attacks don’t happen much, said S.C. Department of Natural Resources Chief of Wildlife Statewide Projects, Research and Survey Derrell Shipes.

“We have had a lot of raccoons and foxes over the years with rabies but bobcat attacks are unusual,” Shipes said. “Most are afraid of humans and won’t attack unless provoked, such as being caught or cornered. They are not rare but they are also not abundant in South Carolina. They do not live close to humans.”

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Fox attacks two hikers

By Doug Cook, The Daily Courier

Sunday, May 03, 2009

PRESCOTT – Craig Leicht and Paul Janowski were enjoying their regular stroll along the three-mile loop of Prescott National Forest Trails 347 and 341 when a fox took a deadly interest in them.

At 6:45 p.m. Thursday, the Prescott neighbors were ending an otherwise routine hike on a trail near Granite Mountain, a mile west of Prescott’s municipal boundary and little more than a mile away from their homes, when the male animal attacked them.

Thanks to a quick response, Leicht, who moved here from Texas in February, and Janowski fended off and killed what they think was a rabid fox close to the trails’ far junction toward the bottom of a ravine. Neither of the men suffered bites or injuries.

“The fox appeared dazed, although he didn’t have any froth in his mouth,” said Janowski, 70, on Friday. “It was really weird, in a way.”

An Arizona Game and Fish Department official hauled away the fox’s body Friday morning and its frozen head will go to a state medical lab for testing Monday in Phoenix to determine whether it had rabies.

“The popular belief is that rabies tends to be cyclical in nature, and it’s just running its course throughout that area,” Game and Fish public information officer Zen Mocarski said. “Your odds of a wild animal encounter for the number of people that are outside still remains very low.”

Thursday’s incident was only one in a series of human vs. wild animal clashes during the past several months in Yavapai County, including the tri-city area.

“I looked ahead and saw something crouching on the trail, and I thought it was a bobcat in a hunched-down, crouching position,” Leicht said Friday about the fox encounter. “It was probably about 100 feet ahead or maybe more, so I bent down and picked up a rock just to scare it. By the time I stood up, this thing was about five feet away from me.”

Leicht, an anesthesiologist at Yavapai Regional Medical Center who lives in the Hokegon neighborhood off Iron Springs Road, about a mile west of Williamson Valley Road toward the Granite Mountain Wilderness Area, said he and Janowski were walking toward the latter’s residence when the incident happened.

“I threw a 15- to 20-pound boulder at the fox and it bounced off his back,” Leicht said. “I thought that would have deterred him, but he got up, came back at me, grabbed my pants leg, and I finally kicked him with my boot. He kept getting up and tried to attack again.”

At that point, Leicht kicked the fox as hard as he could, flinging it into a tree. Leicht and Janowski subsequently ambushed the animal and stoned it to death.

“I was surprised he was so aggressive and that it would come at me at such a distance,” Leicht said. “It was growling the whole way it was charging us. Once I kicked it a couple times, it would whimper and growl.”

One of Leicht’s neighbors plans to erect a homemade sign at the trailhead warning hikers about the possibility of having an encounter with a rabid animal.

Leicht recommends hikers carry hiking sticks and wear boots and long, baggy pants in case something happens.

“We didn’t have sticks or anything,” said Janowski, adding that he might start packing a .22-caliber pistol for safety when walking the trail. “It was very scary. I’m going to be very observant.”

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Canine attacks, injures teen

By Richelle Bailey | The McDowell News

Published: April 27, 2009

A Buncombe County teen told local authorities he was attacked by a coyote in the woods off Mill Creek Road Sunday. Animal Control officers say he suffered extensive injuries from some sort of canine, but it’s unlikely it was a coyote.
Simon Joseph Sexton, 17, and a friend were scouting for places to turkey hunt around 5 p.m. They had walked two-tenths of a mile into the woods close to the first pull-off on the left coming from Ridgecrest, according to McDowell County Animal Control Sgt. Brian Walker.
Sexton got ahead of his friend and out of sight. A canine jumped toward the teen and went for Sexton’s throat and then his groin area, Walker stated. Sexton’s friend heard the commotion and came running, which, in turn, scared the animal off.
“The victim said it was a big coyote, about a hundred pounds. His friend said it looked like a German shepherd mix,” said the sergeant.
Monday, Walker, Animal Control Cpl. Frank Holder and Sexton’s father, Rodney, went back to the area of Mill Creek where the attack occurred to search for any signs of the animal.
“We found the tracks of a canine, but this animal would only weigh about 50 pounds,” Walker stated. “Generally, a coyote that weighs 35 to 40 pounds is considered a big coyote. Based on the tracks we found, we think the animal might have been a hybrid or a domesticated dog that someone turned loose that is now feral. … More than likely, it was probably a female that had pups nearby and felt threatened because they usually don’t want to be around people.”
The sergeant said that Sexton’s friend carried the 17-year-old out of the woods. He was taken to an Asheville hospital, where his wounds were stitched and he was started on rabies vaccines and was released.
Walker advised anyone walking in the woods to be aware of their surroundings and carry a stick.
“It might not protect you against everything, but it’s better than nothing,” he stated. “Also, go with someone if possible. If you’re going by yourself, let someone know when you will be out so if you’re not back on time they can call for help.”

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It’s almost like an animal revolution is going on.

Possible rabid animal attacks reported in Winchester area

WINCHESTER – At least three incidents of possible rabid animal attacks have been reported to Animal Control this month, according to a press release issued today by Winchester police.

On Wednesday, a woman reported that she and a child had been attacked by a red fox on Battery Drive.

“The female reported that after leaving a business on Battery Drive with a male child that she was caring for, a red fox came out from underneath a vehicle and bit the child’s shoe. When the female intervened, the fox bit the female several times. The female then drove to seek treatment at the Winchester Medical Center, ” the release states.

“The parent of the child decided she would seek treatment the following day at the child’s pediatrician, since the fox bite did not penetrate the child’s skin. The female described the fox as having a mangy coat, wet and bloody mouth.”

Animal Control has set traps in the Battery Drive area where the incident occurred. Area neighbors reported seeing the fox under cars througout the day. 

On Sunday, a homeowner in the 100 block of Linden Drive reported her dog had been attacked by a groundhog, and that when she tried to scare the animal away, it charged at her.

“The homeowner, who was not bitten, went back into her residence and called the dog inside. The groundhog was not on the property when Animal Control arrived. Several traps have been set in the area in an attempt to catch the groundhog. The homeowner’s dog was up to date on his rabies vaccination; however, the 45-day hold was placed on the dog. It cannot be confirmed that the groundhog is rabid until the groundhog has been caught,” the release states.

On April 15, a homeowner in the 700 block of Merriman’s Lane reported that his dog was attacked by a raccoon.

“During the attack, the homeowner was able to kill the raccoon. The Virginia Department of Health confirmed the raccoon was infected with rabies. The homeowner’s dog was up to date on his rabies vaccination; however, the Virginia Department of Health requires a 45-day hold on the dog, which is monitored by the Department of Health,” the release states.

Winchester police are asking area residents to report any wildlife or animals that exhibit signs of rabies, or if a bat enters a residence. Call police at 540-662-4131.

Signs of rabies include dingy or mangy coat, wounded appearance, bleeding or wet mouth, and/or aggressive or confused actions.

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Woman Attacked by Wild Pig

Posted By: Gary Detman 

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Cassandra Frank says she hadn’t even had a chance to have her morning cup of coffee on Monday.

She says the father of her 6 and 7-year-old children told her there was a pig in the backyard of their home on 23rd Avenue North.

A pig in the neighborhood is definitely odd, since they live within the city limits. You can see Interstate 275 through the fence that runs along the side of their home. Cassandra says, “I used to have a pig growing up, so I thought it was, you know, not that big.”

The pig was behind a wooden shed in the back yard. It appeared to have been digging a hole there. Cassandra went to take a closer look.

“Well, when I saw the back end of it, I didn’t think it would be that big. But when it came charging at me and I really got a look at it… I mean, it scared me.” 

It was that fear she says that sent her running back to the front of the house. The hog, weighing nearly 200 pounds, was moving fast too, and came straight at her. “So when I looked at my leg and I saw that it did, you know, nick me.”

Frank was left with a scratch and a bruise from the wild hog’s tusk.

Nine emergency workers responded from the St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue department, St. Petersburg Police Department and Pinellas County Animal Control Department.

Lt. Dan Robinson says, “We were all trying to capture the pig.”

Lt. Robinson, a 15 year veteran of the St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue department, says he had to jump over a six foot wooden fence to get out of the wild hog’s way. “She stopped about 10 feet short of me and looked at me. I looked at her and tried to scare her back to the pack, and at that time then she charged me.”

Robinson was able to get out of the way in the nick of time and wasn’t hurt.

Bill Warzybok, the animal control officer, finally captured the hog. He says the attacks could have been life threatening.

“The last thing you want to do is get gored by a 170 pound hog. It’s definitely not going to be good.”

Warzybok says it’s fortunate that the hog’s tusks were ground down and not three to four inches long. “It could hit a femoral artery and you could literally bleed to death.” 

The hog injured its leg during the attack and had to put to sleep. It’s now being tested for rabies.

Meanwhile, Cassandra plans to head back to her job Tuesday at a local fast food restaurant. She’s also studying to become a medical assistant.

No one is sure where the animal came from, but the case is under investigation.

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What’s going on in NY? The 4th Coyote attack in 3 weeks.

Coyote attacks local man

Officers forced to shoot and kill
coyote

Updated: Thursday, 16 Apr 2009, 9:47 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 16 Apr 2009, 6:37 AM EDT

• Jericka Duncan
• Photographer Danylo Paszkowsky Posted by Emma Orn

NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) – Police officers were forced to shoot and kill a coyote that attacked a man in Niagara County Wednesday night. 

For the man who was close enough when the coyote turned ugly, getting away unharmed was quite the feat. Officials said the 31 year-old man was walking along Zimmerman road late Wednesday night when the coyote circled him and then nipped at his legs. 

“They’re usually not aggressive. They usually try to stay away from humans,” said Capt. John Mangus from North Tonawanda Fire Department. 

Despite what’s typical of these animals, the health department reports this is the 4th time a coyote has tried to attack a human in the last three weeks in North Tonawanda. 

Nicole Azim is a resident there. She said, “I never thought we’d have a coyote living across the street from my house.” 

Some neighbors who heard police fire the shot that killed the coyote said they feel safer. “It’s not out running around anymore so I feel like I can go outside without it running out,” said Courtney Connors. 

Fire Captain Mangus said coyotes aren’t uncommon in the area. What you can do to protect yourself is simple. “Stay away from it! Right now what we’ve experienced is these are aggressive now. They’re not just running away,” said Magnus. “Be aware that they are out there. You know going out into your backyard. Turn lights on first. Hopefully that will scare them off.” 

Health officials said they will test the coyote for rabies. 

Mark Alessandrea from North Tonawanda said, “Unfortunately it didn’t have rabies. That’s kind of sad. I like the wildlife here. That’s why I moved here.”

>> Click here for Coyote Safety Tips

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These stories are far too common.

Pit bull attack: Investigation underway

CAPE CORAL: Animal Control officers are investigating a dog attack in the Cape. A woman was walking her dog along SW 41st Street, when she says a pit bull lunged at both of them.

Judy Soehnlein says the leather dog leash she uses made it home from her morning walk intact, but the 11-year-old Dalmatian it was holding was not so lucky.

“He’s got bites – about eight to ten bites around his neck where he latched on and wouldn’t let go,” she said.

Slick, the Dalmatian, is still getting those wounds treated and Soehnlein is recovering from hers.

Her bandages tell a terrifying story of an early morning pit bull attack right outside her Cape Coral home.

“I grabbed my hand and my arm was bleeding everywhere,” she said.

She calls it a split second struggle that will leave a lifetime of scars.

Animal Control officers say a neighbor’s pit bull, named Diesel, got loose and lunged for Soehnlein and Slick.

“I saw him coming around the corner. His feet were kicking up he was running fiercely,” she said.

Animal Control says it has happened before. They explained that just a week ago, Diesel attacked a small dog down the street.

Diesel’s owner has been cited seven times for letting the dog off his leash and for not having proper licensing or vaccinations.

For now, Soehnlein is in need of rabies shots and hoping someone will take action soon against the pit bull and its owner.

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Another Wild Animal Attack in North Tonawanda

Originally printed at http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/43078107.html

A North Tonawanda man was attacked by a fox on Monday night, according to Niagara County health officials.

The man was walking home from the store on Niagara Falls Boulevard near Erie Avenue when the fox approached him and bit him in the leg.

It’s the third attack by a wild animal in the city during the past few weeks.

Health officials say it’s important for residents to protect themselves. The advise people against approaching or feeding animals.

North Tonawanda police are searching for the coyote and have instructions to shoot and kill it if it’s safe to do so. Health officials want to test the animal for rabies.

In all three attacks, the victims are undergoing rabies vaccinations.

In early March, a fox was captured and killed in the Town of Wilson. It tested positive for rabies, which is a potentially fatal disease in humans if left untreated.

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State officials confirm bobcat had rabies

The Daily Courier

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

State officials confirmed Tuesday that a bobcat that attacked two people in Prescott Valley Monday had rabies.

The human victims, as well as a dog that suffered bites in a separate attack Monday, must get rabies vaccinations now.

PV police killed the bobcat shortly after it attacked a mother and daughter along Lynx Creek near StoneRidge Drive Monday afternoon.

The bobcat was acting extremely aggressive, so the rabies came as no surprise, said Zen Mocarski, an information officer with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Kingman office.

To hear the police dispatch tape of the 911 call for help when the bobcat attacked the mother and daughter, visit The Daily Courier’s website at dcourier.com. The website also contains a more detailed story that ran Tuesday.

Mocarski said he fielded a lot of calls Tuesday from Prescott-area citizens concerned about all the recent northern Arizona attacks by wildlife with rabies.

People might want to carry a walking stick, but “The odds of encountering a rabid animal remain very low,” Mocarski said.

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Here’s a very thoughtful essay about the issue of dogs attacking children and what can be done to prevent it in the future.

Work together to solve dog attack issues

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Pits bulls again made the news. Now, before I go on, don’t think this is an editorial about pit bulls. All dogs bite. While bites have long been endured as a job-related hazard for utility and postal workers, for many cities the problem affects the entire community. Dog bites are serious public health problems that cause considerable physical and emotional damage to victims and incalculable costs to communities.

Following a severe attack, there is always an outcry to do something by citizens, and the something that is done often reflects a knee-jerk response. Typically, it’s an outcry to “ban the breed.” However, a knee-jerk response does not cure an ongoing problem. Of critical concern are the demographics of typical dog bite victims. Almost half are children younger than 12 years old, and boys 5 to 9 are at the highest risk. People more than 70 years old comprise 10 percent of those bitten and 20 percent of those killed. The costs of dog bite injuries are high. The insurance industry estimates it pays more than $1 billion a year in homeowners’ liability claims resulting from dog bites. Hospital expenses for dog bite-related emergency visits are estimated at $102.4 million.

A frequent question is what breed or breeds of dogs are most “dangerous.” This inquiry is generally prompted by a serious attack by a specific dog, or it may be the result of media-driven portrayals of a specific breed as “vicious.” Lately, it’s been pit bulls, but Dobermans, Rottweilers and German shepherds have all been targeted at some point. Singling out a breed for control can result in a false sense of accomplishment. Doing so ignores the true scope of the problem and will not result in a responsible approach to protecting the community’s most vulnerable citizens. In general, dog bite statistics do not give an accurate picture of dogs that bite. However, what is clear is that chained, intact (unneutered) male dogs are involved in 70 to 76 percent of reported dog bite incidents.

Total costs associated with dog bite injuries cannot be easily measured because so many intangible quality-of-life issues are involved. These costs include time spent by officials on animal-related issues, deterioration of relationships between neighbors, citizens’ concerns about neighborhood safety for children, concerns about being able to walk safely, homeowners’ insurance costs within the community and even animal shelter support for unwanted pets. These are quality-of-life issues that ultimately determine the desirability of a community to its citizens and contribute to feeling safe in our neighborhoods.

What can Abilene do to help prevent dog bites and attacks? Make responsible dog ownership and public education a priority. We have many programs already available in our community that could easily add a dog safety program.

To begin, we need Abilene animal control to enforce the ordinances and to let the City Council know if the current ordinances are ineffective in controlling animal problems. For your information, all animals in Abilene must have current rabies shots and be licensed; this makes the owners responsible for their animals. And, yes, this in turn helps fund programs. Offer reduced registration fees for neutering/spaying your pet. Many cities have passed ordinances requiring “breeder” licenses to help control overpopulation. Lack of enforcement regarding animal control ordinances in Abilene is a major safety concern of every citizen, young and old.

Dog bite injuries rank third only to bicycle and baseball/softball injuries as a leading cause of emergency admission of children to hospitals. Since every school child in Abilene goes through “Safety City,” add a short “safe pet” program for our children, sponsored by a local vet or another animal agency.

Parents, if you don’t know the safe dog rules, ask your school or child care facility to help sponsor a safe pet program. Always keep in mind that children are the most likely to be bit in the face.

And finally, to help the older victim of dog attacks, target the senior population through our senior centers and Meals on Wheels programs. Seniors are vulnerable not only because of mobility problems but underlying health issues that can turn a nip into an unhealed wound.

Responsible dog ownership is not only a good neighbor policy but a community responsibility. Abilene should be a safe and responsible community with safe neighborhoods. Unfortunately, until everyone is willing to take responsibility for their pets, it is up to Animal Control to enforce our ordinances.

Let’s put aside our differences about our “beloved” pets and work as a community to do our best to keep this tragedy from happening in Abilene.

Lydia M. Long, Ph.D., teaches criminal justice at Excelsior College and owns a Welsh corgi.