Biting Prospect Park Raccoon Gets Death Penalty

The Prospect Park raccoon that bit a woman on which we reported yesterday was caught and euthanized, Patrick Gallahue reports in today's New York Post. The raccoon was not rabid. Mr. Gallahue reports:

The odd attack by a rampaging raccoon happened as the victim enjoyed a Sunday outing with her family at The Lake, officials told The Post yesterday.

The animal had been lurking unusually close to people when it struck, sinking its teeth into the woman's thigh.

Her husband managed to pull it off and then it fled, according to the blog Gowanus Lounge.

Parks officials credited the NYPD with catching the attacker, which was found to be not rabid. It was euthanized.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe speculated the raccoon simply got hungry. "If you see a raccoon coming toward you walk the other way," he advised. "These are tough New York City raccoons."

Benepe pointed out that the animals are native to the area, noting, "They were in the parks before they were parks."

So, you see, we have hungry and "tough" New York City raccoons. No comment from Mr. Benepe, apparently, on the "very aggressive" ducks and geese that were also noted in our post.

Related Post:
Why Brooklyn is Better: Aggressive Geese and Attacking Raccoons