Whitfield County officials are urging anyone who may have been exposed to a rabid raccoon in Al Rollins Park on Threadmill Road this week to call 911 immediately.
A 6-year-old boy is undergoing treatment for rabies after being bitten and scratched several times by the raccoon Tuesday afternoon at the park, a Whitfield County Animal Shelter employee said.
“We hear that possibly a young female may have also been scratched by a raccoon, and if that is the case, her family needs to contact 911 as soon as possible to begin treatment,” said Diane Franklin, a rabies control officer.
The raccoon, described by Ms. Franklin as a “huge male,” attacked the boy about 12:30 or 1 p.m., she said.
“He had gone to the stream to look at the water,” Ms. Franklin said, “and the raccoon came out of a culvert and attacked him unprovoked. His father reacted appropriately and was able to contain the animal because he knew it would have to be tested. Fortunately, the father was not bitten or scratched.”