Lanett woman attacked by raccoon – Valley Times-News

LANETT – A Lanett woman is undergoing preventive treatment for rabies after being attacked by a raccoon in her yard on July 4.

Gerry Slaughter, a resident of South Jennings Avenue, suffered scratches on his left lower leg and left thigh around 10:30 a.m.

“I walked to my car and there were two raccoons standing next to it,” she told The Valley Times-News. “One of them jumped on me and scratched my leg twice.”

The two raccoons then fled towards a forest and were accompanied by a third raccoon on their escape.

Slaughter has lived in South Jennings for many years, but this was the first time she had close contact with raccoons.

It is dangerous to be bitten or scratched by a raccoon living in the wild. Raccoons are one of the mammals most likely to carry rabies, but not all of them have the disease. In one study, up to one in five raccoons were found to have rabies.

Knowing the risk, Slaughter went to the emergency room at EAMC Lanier Hospital for treatment. During that visit, she received rabies shots in both arms and a tetanus shot. She will receive a third such shot this Thursday and a final one the following Thursday.

“I just want people in the area to be aware and be cautious if they come into contact with a raccoon,” Slaughter said. “If something like this happens to you, play it safe and seek medical attention immediately.”