Bobcat that attacked Massachusetts family was rabid, officials say

USNews/NBC.com ^ | 1/9/2013 | Daniel Arkin

[South40]

The wild bobcat that attacked two people in Brookfield, Mass., leaving a man with severe gashes on his face and arms, had rabies, according to a town official.

Stephen J. Comtois, chairman of the town council, announced at a council meeting Tuesday evening that the bobcat was infected with the neurological disease, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported. Comtois said the victims of the attack were being treated with vaccination shots.

((snip))

Amid the frenzy, Mundell and his wife managed to pin the animal to the ground with a walking crutch. While Mundell kneeled on the bobcat, his wife ran inside to retrieve a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, and Mundell shot the animal, Blancherd said.

[JRandomFreeper]

And rather final.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

I read that thread. You weren't very nice. "You've never been married, have you?" indeed.

I laughed out loud when I first read it, and again tonight.

/johnny

[Ladysforest]

The shots aren’t so bad. EXCEPT that before the rabies shots begin you have to get this other stuff - I forget what it’s called now, “globulin” something or other, but the number of hypos depends on your weight. I had to have five I think - kinda BIG shots. The actual rabies vaccine injections aren’t bad, they are normal sized and just go in your shoulder.

You get them in a series. I was expecting problems with side effects ( I always have such problems), but I only experienced some sleepiness an hour or so after the injection. That was it.

I think these people already went through the worst part of it in tangling with that bobcat. Amazing story.

[vetvetdoug]

The most recent Rabies vaccinations are not as painful as the old Duck egg vaccine series. I have had both post exposure treatments and the new ones are nowhere near as painful as the old treatments. The last time I was titred, it titrated out as far as they could take it. The DEE vaccine would produce significant immune response.

[JRandomFreeper]

I just said that to be nice. He's a guy. He needs to suck it up and take the shots would be my real reaction. ;)

/johnny

[Secret Agent Man]

little tigers.

[Cementjungle]

his wife ran inside to retrieve a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, and Mundell shot the animal

They stalked and murdered an unarmed Bobcat? Maybe it was just looking for some Skittles.

[Bobalu]

It is some sort of a rat.

It may have escaped, when the LED flash fired I suspect the cat dropped the rat..the sudden flash of light would have been startling.

[South40]

They stalked and murdered an unarmed Bobcat?

"Like a rabid dog in the street."

[lonevoice]

wow

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The animal attacked him and his nephew while they working on a project outdoors, in his driveway. Where they live, there is rarely any need for a firearm for self protection. Occasionally, but rarely.

I live a few miles northeast of them. I have seen at least one bobcat in Concord, MA (maybe a mile north of the Old North Bridge), which is a few miles east of me. When I take my grandson sledding in a remote area, I worry just a little bit about bobcats. More nowadays.

[Carriage Hill]

Did you use a 12ga? Makes a mess but does the job. I shot one foamy coon and a rabid possum with the .50cal Beowulf w/ 335gr loads, and didn’t find half of either animal. Buzzards took care of the rest of it.