Idaho Infant Injured in Rare Raccoon Attack Inside Family Home

The child was hospitalized after the mother intervened to stop the attack, with officials confirming the raccoon tested negative for rabies.

An Idaho mother discovered a raccoon attacking her infant son inside their home on December 23 and successfully stopped the attack by grabbing the animal.
The infant sustained undisclosed injuries and was transferred from a local hospital in Burley to a hospital in Salt Lake City for further treatment.
The raccoon was killed by the child’s father and a sheriff’s deputy and later tested negative for rabies, according to Idaho Fish and Game officials.
Authorities described the incident as extremely rare, noting that raccoons are generally shy and avoid humans unless threatened.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game urged residents to take preventative measures to deter wildlife, such as securing trash, storing pet food indoors, and sealing potential entry points into homes.