Raccoons may look cute and cuddly, but as one Lakeland, Florida woman found out, they’re still incredibly dangerous. When 74-year-old Gretchen Whitted discovered five raccoons rummaging around in her garbage can, she did what any responsible homeowner would do. She went outside to scare the little beasties off. Unfortunately for her, the raccoons weren’t exactly afraid of her, and when she interrupted dinner, they turned on her. The raccoons knocked her down and proceeded to viciously maul her.
Raccoons aren’t big or fast or strong. They don’t have big teeth or venom. However, they do have nature’s ultimate weapon: cuteness. Just look at that little fella up there. He’s so fuzzy and cuddly with his little bandit mask and his bushy tail. Yet someone like him and four of his buddies just bit and scratched an old woman so badly she had to be rushed to the hospital!
It just goes to show you that the cuter an animal is, the more dangerous it can be. You expect danger from snakes and spiders and creepy-crawlies; you don’t expect danger from a fuzzy.
Tags: raccoon attack, woman mauled by raccoons, Lakeland, Florida, Polk County, Gretchen Whitted, animal attack, wild animals
