US
Baby Girl Attacked in Crib by Raccoons: ‘Extremely Serious Injuries’
- Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:06am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
A 9-month-old Georgia girl is in critical condition after raccoons attacked her face and ears while she was asleep in her crib:
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 690 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 659 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 524 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 361 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 324 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 210 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 225 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order Read More- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 210 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (50)
The Third Archon
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 5:33pmRaccoons are ******* a**holes! Where’s my bloodhound and lever action? Let’s go coon (the animal–I’m not a racist and not to be confused with Coons–sorry if I got you excited for nothing) hunting!
Report Post »Okpulot Taha
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 3:44pmSome of our raccoons who live with us on our land and in our house:
http://www.purlgurl.net/~puma/blaze/blaze_coon_kittens_01.jpg
http://www.purlgurl.net/~puma/blaze/blaze_coon_kittens_02.jpg
I can write to this topic with expertise and authority.
This story of raccoons “attacking” a baby is spun for sensationalism. I am noting photographs of raccoons for those stories depict raccoons as aggressive and vicious. This is an outright visual lie.
Raccoons are amongst the least dangerous of wild animals. Raccoons are instinctively timid and fearful. Simply the sight of a human or a large animal has raccoons scatter and run for hiding. Raccoons are no more dangerous than a tomcat roaming your neighborhood.
Raccoons, when comfortable, are curious, playful and exceptionally smart. Behavior of raccoons is close to a playful house cat. Our raccoons come right into our home, roam all over getting into everything and anything, usually making a mess. We needed to install cabinet door latches, above the reach of our raccoons, to keep those bandits out of my kitchen pantry. Raccoons can master just about any door, cabinet door, drawer, even a refrigerator door.
We hand feed our raccoons cookies, grapes, crackers, and other treats to make “friends” of them and to partially tame our raccoons. However, we keep in mind those raccoons are wild animals. Nonetheless, our raccoons will get up on my lap for attention (and cookies) and will even get up on our bed at night to wake me, “Wake up. Give us cookies!”
Raccoon kittens will “bite” at my bare toes thinking my toes to be food, and those kittens will “bite” at my ears for the same reason. Once they learn my toes and my ears are part of “me” they stop doing this. When biting at my bare toes, I only need to wiggle to my toes to have those kittens scatter and run; they frighten easily.
This baby incident, those raccoons were NOT attacking this baby. Those raccoons sensed a source of food and were simply eating this baby, as horrible as this seems. This news story is lacking truth. This baby would loudly scream with the first nip. Those parents are not being truthful. Raccoons are omnivores but their teeth are not specialized for ripping apart meat such as with big cats. Yes, raccoons have “canine” teeth but look at my photographs; rounded and dull incisors and canines. Raccoons “chew” not “rip”. Those raccoons had to be at this baby for a very long time, an hour or more as a minimum.
Our raccoons are fed a mix of dry cat food and dry dog food; kibble. We have to be extra quiet and move extra slow while they are inside our home feeding. Simply a sneeze or a wave of a hand will have our raccoons bolt and run. Raccoons are shy and timid. Raccoons scare easily.
This officer claiming a raccoon became “aggressive” and “attacked” him is lying through his teeth. This never happens. This officer cornered this raccoon, left no chance of escape for this raccoon. This officer was confronted by a frightened and cornered raccoon looking to survive.
This news story is being deceitful spun to be sensational to attract readers and viewers. Reporters are lying, the police are lying, those parents are lying.
Former president Jimmy Carter spread rabies via raccoons by having raccoons in the deep south captured live then brought to into Virginas and Carolinas region for a “coon hunt” with his political friends. Rabies via raccoons had not spread north until Jimmy Carter brought those coons north.
Raccoons with rabies are common in regions with high humidity and fleas, such as Florida and Georgia. Here on the west coast, there are no incidents of raccoons with rabies, never. Out here rabies is only found in bats, specifically in Indio, California, a southern desert city. You can count the number of rabies exposure to humans on one hand. If I recall right, over the past twenty years only four incidents of rabies exposure by bats through children playing with dead bats.
Raccoons are amongst the most maligned of animals. This is irrational behavior by people. Raccoons are timid and fearful. Raccoons make excellent pets. Raccoons are highly beneficial to helping keep Mother Nature in balance. However, people tend to forget raccoons are wild animals.
This news story about raccoons “attacking” a baby are deceitful and deliberately sensationalized. Truth is not being told. The most dangerous animal on earth is man. We are the aggressors, we attack and kill. Man is the problem, not Mother Nature.
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
Okpulot Taha
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 4:30pmI write, “Raccoons, when comfortable, are curious, playful and exceptionally smart.”
Curious, those raccoons will open drawers then explore inside, even get inside a drawer to discover what is in there. I learned quickly to keep my jewelry, small knick-knacks, even coins concealed and locked up from our raccoons. Toilet paper is the worst. We have to keep our toilet paper roll behind a latched cabinet door. Raccoons go nuts unrolling toilet paper!
Look at my photographs, empty toilet paper roll. Raccoons did this, made a mess. Now they just spin the cardboard tube round and round. Now and then, I will partially fill our bathtub with water. Those raccoons jump right in and play. Rather messy, though. What they love the most is when I load our water filled tub with grapes for them to instinctively “find” and eat.
Playful, we put out tennis balls, golf balls, empty cardboard rolls from paper towels and toilet paper. Sometimes we hang stuffed animals on fishing line for our raccoons. They will play with those like crazy! Cardboard tubes are their favorite. A raccoon will stick his arm up a tube, roll over and wave this tube around. Our raccoon kittens constantly wrestle and roll around like wrestlers on television.
Smart, our raccoons recognize words: “cookie”, “*******”, “grape”, “come here”, “stop that” and other words. Raccoons have a vocabulary. I have learned their language. A “huffing grunt” sound has them raise their hackles and prepare for fight; danger is present. A chirping warning has them scatter; danger is approaching. A high pitched trill of a tongue, they come running; momma is calling. I will forgo discussing mating sounds and exhibited behaviors.
Unlike cats and dogs, raccoons will watch television and react to what they see. Often, our raccoons try to “reach into” our television to grab something interesting. Wolves, dogs, big cats on television make our raccoons take off running in fright.
Our raccoons like the Three Stooges the best, gets them to rolling around and laughing.
Raccoons are not dangerous unless you corner and threaten a raccoon. You would react the same.
This news of raccoons reports a “hole” near an air conditioner. This is curious. Has to be a large hole for raccoons to pass through. This would also allow snakes, mice, rats, foxes, opossum and many other animals to enter this home. I must ask, “Why did those parents not block this big hole?”
Strikes me this is not a problem with raccoons, this is a problem with irresponsible parents.
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
cranberry
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 2:48pmI feel for that baby, how very sad and upsetting. However can we not want to kill all the animals? That’s what we do, kill kill right away. God made them too. I totally blame the parents. Either way, the parents are negligent. Who in today‘s society would leave a window open in a baby’s room? People can get in too! and if these coons are pets? They belong out in the wild, not in the house. Same with monkeys, tigers, lions and all kinds of animals that never should be “pets”. Its sick. Period.
Report Post »america_rocks
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 2:10pmRaccoons are just awful. Nasty, intrusive, feel they’re entitled to every aspect of our lives. Kinda like Democrats.
Seriously, I pray that baby recovers. Poor thing. They need a good exterminator, and check the whole house for holes!
Report Post »Grandpa
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 1:23pmGo rescue a big dog to live outside, coons will stay away.
Report Post »chaotic_harmony
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 12:47pmI watched 3 raccoons attack my cat a few years ago. By the time I got to him, he was soaked in their saliva, and had holes in his skull from their bites. Until you have seen the damage these animals can do, they seem somewhat harmless. They made it into our home through an open window. It was over 95 degrees out, and we didn’t have AC. They cut right through the screen. Even if you leave a sliding window cracked, they can open it and get in. We had to lock our deadbolt to keep them from opening the front door.
This isn’t the time to be lecturing the parents. Unless they were keeping the raccoons as pets, which they weren’t, they didn’t do anything to cause this. As hard as it was to lose my cat, I am thankful that they went for him and not my children. This family doesn’t need to be shamed and criminalized right now. They need prayers and support.
Report Post »Fight for America
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 12:46pmOne story said this “Newton County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating how the raccoons got inside the home and to the child, who was sleeping in a crib in the same room as her mother.” NOTE: repeat – sleeping in the same room as her mother Another says the mother came into the room when she heard the baby whimpering. NOTE: the mother came into the room Yes, there is mention of a hole thta would have allowed access and yes, there is the question or thought that the animals were pets. Another comment is that the mother entered the room and pulled the raccoons (threw them) or some such wording. While it’s true that people can do amazing feats of strength in an emergency, am I the only one questioning how cooperative two raccoons would be if someone tried to pull them away from the baby they were chewing on? Raccoons can be pretty aggressive, quick, strong, etc. The mom would probably be the next, immediate target. Additionally, when police came, the raccoons were still there outside.
Raccoons move pretty quickly and exit the scene if they feel threatened caged in, etc.
Something just sounds odd about the story and the idea that some other “shoe” will drop and change the story is not that hard to believe.
If you pray, say some prayers for the little one.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 12:35pmI have a one page plan for these lowlife jerks – put them in a 2 X 4 cell and stack it full of raccoons!!!!!
Report Post »Christian Kalgaard
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 12:33pm“…and to kill by the beasts of the earth”
Report Post »brinksmom
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:54amHow sad! Why do people keep wild animals as pets then are shocked when they do what wild animals do? Like a boa constrictor killing the baby or a “pet” chimp turning on its owner?
Report Post »KE_in_IA
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:07amThe mother heard the child “whimpering”? How much ‘cough medicine’ did they give the baby before they put her to bed? NO ONE, let alone a baby, would simply ‘whimper’ if a pair of raccoons were chewing on their head unless there were pharmaceuticals involved — IMHO.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:28amI agree, something has been left out. IMHO, that is neglect. A baby simply cries over a stomach twinge when they’re hungry. But raccoons hurting a baby, it only wimpers?? There is NO way that is possible. But I do pray for this child and hope they get down to the bottom of how a baby can be so badly injured if the parents were sober and in the house!
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 1:42pmThe baby was 9 months old, by that age they have developed a pretty lusty cry. It is hard to believe that a healthy 9month old couldn’t find enough voice to wake her mom and everyone else in the house. Praying for the babe.
Report Post »JordyRod
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:06amEnough with the pity for the parents. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE DAMNED HOUSE! Who can’t find a scrap of wood and board it up? Negligent, I say.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:56amI pray for the baby, but stupid crap like this makes me look under my bed for armed elves and in the closet for the Madagascar Penguins.
How the hell does a baby get attacked in the crib by raccoons….
Report Post »exrepublican
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:47amDagneyt. You were offended by Dimuborgir’s comment and felt a need to report him because he offended you. I am much more offended by any American forgetting that free speech will sometimes offend some people, but forgetting that his right to say whatever is on his mind is important. Even if it is a joke that some will not find funny.
My Prayers go out to the Baby for a full recovery, but also to you for your complete lack of understanding of how Free Speech works.
Report Post »AirForceBrat
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:22amPoor Baby! Even if she can make it through this initial trauma, there will probably be reconstructive surgeries. It will be a long road for the whole family, and so sad.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:16amRaccoons are devious creatures. I have experienced them first hand. They are intelligent and scheming. They have little hands with fingers. They open doors, coolers, cars, tents, anything not locked down or shut. Let this be a warning to all who think they can be kept as pets of their truly wild nature.
Report Post »Poor kid.
smokie
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 1:21pmAnd they are deceptively quick! They meander, so you get fooled into thinking they can’t race right up and grab food from your plate, but that’s what happened to my uncle in Kentucky as he sat on his back porch.
Report Post »I had a cousin who was fool enough to try to keep one as a pet, one day it quickly razored her hand ala Freddie Krueger.
They can cut through a screen, and manipulate latches.
heavyduty
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:04amHope this little girl gets well quickly. May God touch this girl in a loving way and keep her safe. I agree that the raccoons carry rabies and she will probably have to have shots. But maybe they will expedite the rabies test quickly to see. Sure seems to me that someone should have heard the baby screaming. I will be praying for the baby.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:03amIt turns out they were pets being kept by the parents. Great parenting, probably voted for Obama.
Report Post »mendolover
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:03amNo use for any damn racoons
Report Post »standswithafist
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:48amand no one heard the baby screaming? very sad. if the child survives i believe rabies shots are in store as raccoons are notorious for carrying rabies. prayers for the baby.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:59amThe one racoon which was caught was tested for rabies — test came back negative. Unfortunately the mom heard the baby whimpering and thought she was hungry. At 4 a.m. most moms would have waited for the child to settle down rather than jump up to see what the problem was. This is just a very very unfortunate situation. No neglect is apparent.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:23amSerious injuries and the baby was only wimpering?? I highly doubt that. HIGHLY doubt that. But I do pray for this child that there is a quick healing and recovery! Poor baby!
Report Post »WTP
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:47amWhat that family needs now is prayers and good medical care, not thoughtless remarks.
Report Post »capitalideals
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:35amThis isn’t a thoughtless remark. It’s been alleged that the parents kept the raccoons as pets. If this is true, the parents should be very ashamed and will probably be charged with a crime or two.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:36amthat’s what happens when you have a bacon wrapped baby just sittin out in the open like that…
DagneyT
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:04amWhat an inappropriate offensive remark! You are obviously NOT a parent, & I’ve reported this post! I hope others will do the same thing!
DimmuBorgir
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 11:12amShut up, i am to a parent. get off your high horse
mrlogan3
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 1:07pm@dimmuborgir No, your comment was way out of line. A child almost died and that’s what you have to say?
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:41pmGo away Dimmuborgir.. Not funny & completely inappropriate.
Report Post »michelepfaff
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:28amAs a mother my stomach just curled. That poor child.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 1:36pmI just can’t imagine how the mom was able to sleep through it. My son is thirteen years old and I still wake up everytime he mutters in his sleep. I sure hope the little girl is going to be OK and the mom wasn’t doing anything to prevent herself from waking up when her baby cried.
Report Post »john seven eighteen
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:16amSounds like a case for Billy the exterminator. I sure hope the child will be alright.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:40amI hope God protects her and heals her up quickly, and that the parents see to preventing this kind of incident from happening again. Dear Lord sustain and heal the little girl, and bless with guidance and grace the medical groups helping her from this moment forward.
Report Post »Hondaman
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:14amHey parents . . . . . maybe you should care enough to plug any and all holes into the house?
Report Post »SSBN_VET
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:31amIt’s still warm weather down here in Georgia and most of us have our windows open this time of year. A raccoon can cut through a screen in seconds. This is a very unfortunate incident and this child and her family needs prayer not a lecture on parenting.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:41am@SSBN Vet
Already sent them upwards to the Great Commander above. Anyone else joining us is appreciated and more than welcome too.
Report Post »HouseNegro
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:10amCome on, I hope the child will be ok but where was Mom? If a coon started chewing on that baby it would scream it’s head off. Was Mom drunk, high or what? This is a sad story but they are not telling all……..
Report Post »PATRIOTMAMA
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:21amYes, Please pray for this little girl and her parents. Unfortunately in this world bad things can happen to the best of parents. Please don’t judge them in such a horrible time in their lives. Pray. Even if you believe that they hold some responsibility in this incident, they still need prayer. I agree lecturing and judging them is not the way. God bless that baby girl and please Lord hold her in your healing hands as well as her heartbroken parents. Heal them all. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!
Report Post »Breaker 19
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:22amDear God suffer not the little child!
I hear the two racoons are pets and the parents may face charges, they are pending.
Idiots!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 10:38amRabies comes to mind, or what was in the crib that attracted the raccoons inside. There had to be something to draw them to the house.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 12:07pmDidn’t the idiots in Delaware just elect a coon to the senate, what morons?
NoBromides
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 1:10pmRaccoons tore the roof off of my neighbors house. I am 6′ 240lb and have had the little devils stalk/threaten me in my own yard. They are smart and quick to exploit any opportunity that presents itself. A partially open window is like hanging a “come on in” sign up for them. The ones around here are big brutes too, 30lb plus.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 2:37pmThis is what happens when there are not enough coon hunters. Coons are very dangerous wild animals.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 4, 2010 at 8:34pmPlease don’t kick them while they are down. Raccoons chewed through the roof of our house in northern Illinois killed three rabbits & went after my 200lb hubby. Stop blaming parents. God have mercy on the child & family (and on those of us who are bitter & unsympathetic to other’s pain).
Report Post »