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Wild Bobcat That Viciously Attacked MA Family Was Rabid

Jan. 10, 2013 8:20am Billy Hallowell

It’s official: The bobcat that attacked a Massachusetts man and his nephew on Sunday had rabies. Earlier this week, we told you about Roger Mundell Jr.’s shocking story – you know, the one in which the wild animal, which worked its way into his garage, subsequently attacked the unsuspecting family. Now, it has been confirmed that the bobcat was, indeed, inflicted with the deadly virus.

The Telegram & Gazette reports that state lab results on the dead animal were announced at Tuesday night’s select board meeting in Brookfield. Wildlife officials had already suspected that the bobcat was rabid, because of its unusually-aggressive behavior; the tests merely confirmed their suspicions.

Bobcat That Attacked Roger Mundell Jr. Is Rabid

Roger Mundell Jr., bears cuts on his face at his home in Brookfield, Mass., Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, after being attacked by a bobcat in his garage Sunday. The cat ran out of the garage and bit Mundell‘s 15-year-old nephew on the arms and back before it was shot dead. (AP Photo/The Telegram & Gazette, Christine Peterson)

“This is completely out of character for a bobcat, even to be in the garage in the first place,” said Tom French, assistant director for the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, prior to the release of test results. “It is completely consistent with an animal that may have rabies.”

After pouncing on Mundell, 53, sinking its teeth into his face and its claws in his back and holding him in what he described as a bear hug, the animal went outside and bit his 15-year-old nephew.

Watch Mundell describe the terrifying incident, below:

Luckily, the family was able to pin the animal down, then shoot and kill it with a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 before it did any more harm.

Based on recommendations from health care providers, all three individuals commenced rabies treatments immediately following the encounter — so exposure to the animal is, at this point, of no health concern.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Related:

‘Bleeding Like Crazy’: Bobcat Shot Dead After Attacking MA Man In His Own Garage

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Comments (11)

thegreatcarnac
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 3:53pm
The bobcat was a democrat. Hiding and jumping out when people least expected it sounds very democrat-party-ish to me. Loved the part about the .38 though.

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blackwingA520
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 12:47pm
Where are the PETA people saying “why did you have to shoot him? he just wanted to get away!”

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DadRocked
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 10:04am
BLAZE – I am sure that I speak for others here that post frequently and subscribe so to the nuts and bolts…

Thank you for the follow up to a story. In the future please do more on the one time stories that you post. e.g. yesterday’s headline Concealed Carry Holder Teaches Armed Robber Why It’s a Bad Idea to Pull a Gun on a Dad (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/concealed-carry-holder-teaches-armed-robber-why-its-a-bad-idea-to-pull-a-gun-on-a-dad/).

The sentence: “While the robber still got away, a man fitting the description of the suspect arrived at Mount Carmel West Hospital with a gunshot wound shortly after the incident.”

Did this turn out to be the suspect? If so, was he charged and with what? If so, did he evenually get two days sentence or what was the courts finding and punishment? Etc…

Thanks…

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- Vickie Dhaene
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 12:08pm
  You are absolutely right. I need these follow ups. I hate reading a story I take time to read and left wondering days later how does the story end. People wonder why empathy is not so important anymore, and in the age of fast moving news at astounding numbers, everything you read is just the headline. I still care about people very much. These stories touch my heart. Kudos Billy Hallowell. It’s why I follow you.
  
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barber2
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:37am
Glad they had that Smith and Wesson. Will any other media outlet report this incident ?

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IndyGuy
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:52am
My first reaction to the story was to think something had to be seriously wrong with the cat….Totally out of character….Now if it had been a squirrel I’d have thought it sounds about right…

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woodyee
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:48am
I am soooo glad for this family that Gaybama-care hasn’t kicked in. Were it so, the Mundells would have had to jump through so many hoopsjust to get vaccinated, that it would have been too late, and the mailman/doctor would have shrugged and said “Next!”.

Then there’s the E33-type –

It’s been confirmed that the poor thing was out of it’s mind when it was subdued by Mr. & Mrs. Mundell. Did they have to shoot it? It was crazy, subdued and unarmed! This is why we should ban all military-style-assault-gun-rifle-pistol-weapons-of-mass-destruction-fortified-with-VitaminK and 6 essential minerals, like this .380!! Oh PETA! Oh, your Royal Highness Master Obama, ruler of all that you see, why has thou forsaken me?!?

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Eastinfection
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:42am
What was Kemba Walker doing in this guy’s garage in the 1st place?

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The Voice of Libertarian Reason
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:28am
There are no reasons for citizens to have guns… none at all…

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marvlus
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:26am
Are rabies treatments still as painful as they were years back? I think it used to be you’d have to have a shot in your stomach area everyday for a period of several weeks.

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- Stelex
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:49am
  No, I got them in 99, it was quite a few shots, 21 in all but in the arms and legs. I’ve heard its even better now.
  
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