Rabid Raccoon Shot After Holding Resident 'Hostage'

An apparently rabid racoon was shot to death in Ringwood Sunday after authorities said the animal held a resident "hostage" inside his vehicle, according to Suburban Trends.

Bloomingdale Animal Control Officer Lisa Perry, who services Ringwood as well as several other towns contracted with the Borough of Bloomingdale, told the Trends she suspects the animal was rabid because of its behavior, which included repeated attempts to jump on the resident's vehicle. A rabid raccoon can attack a human and police killed the animal before it could do harm.

Read the full story from Suburban Trends here.

Rabies not only infects raccoons and other wild animals but can also be contracted by household pets, such as cats and dogs, if bitten by a rabid animal.

Several rabies clinics will be held to immunize pets in the tri-boro in upcoming months including a Kinnelon clinic on Jan. 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Department of Public Works garage and a clinic on Feb. 16 in Bloomingdale at the Senior Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.