Teeth-Baring ‘Zombie Raccoons’ Are Terrorizing Ohio Residents
OutdoorHub Reporters 04.10.18
Police in Youngstown, Ohio have been receiving some unnerving complaints of “zombie-like” raccoons roaming around, chasing both people and pets.
Robert Coggeshall, an outdoor photographer, had a particularly disturbing encounter with one of these raccoons right in his backyard. As he stated in a Facebook post, Coggeshall was outside with his two dogs when he noticed a raccoon had stumbled into his yard. Immediately realizing the oddity of a raccoon being outside in the middle of the day, he quickly put the dogs inside to keep them safe.
That’s when the raccoon targeted Coggeshall instead.
Coggeshall says the animal acted very strange, and would stand up on its hind legs, show its teeth and then fall over backward.
According to Fox 8 News, Youngstown authorities have had to euthanize at least 14 raccoons displaying this very strange behavior. The state Department of Natural Resources reportedly said the animals were likely suffering from distemper, opposed to rabies.
However, should you come across an animal acting strangely, please report it to their local police station and do not approach the animal.
