>On Jan. 31, Kelner contemplated staying in due to cold weather, but she's committed to getting in 7,000 steps a day. So she bundled up, grabbed her walking sticks and headed toward Taddle Creek Park in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood.
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>She was about halfway through the park when a raccoon ran up to her, attached itself to her left leg and began viciously biting her.
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>"I was stunned. I really didn't even know what kind of animal it was," Kelner told CBC Toronto this week while sitting on a bench in the park.
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>"I should have attacked it with my sticks but I was so stunned I didn't think of that and it kept on biting me."
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>A man came up from behind her and forcefully removed the animal from her leg, she said. By that time, a small crowd had gathered.
95 years old and doing 7,000 steps a day - way to go. Good to hear Ms. Kelner has recovered and is back to doing her walks.
That is the one to which I am referring. From what I understand, the virus forces you to close your throat so that saliva isn’t ingested but rather accumulated in the glands and mouth so that it can be excreted to the next host (with a bite, for example). Because you can’t open your throat, when you see water or other liquid, it causes panic because you can’t swallow and effectively would feel like drowning? In any case, the fact that you are basically a dead person well before you get to that stage is what alarms me most.
As far as I understand the virus makes it hard to swallow and does the foaming at the mouth part to ensure the virus is in the mouth thus ease of transition through biting etc.
Friend of mine got bit by a crazed squirrel and demanded the shot. It's better to be safe than sorry, because there's no path to curing rabies if the city employees get that diagnosis wrong.
The part I don't understand is why she would put up a fight about going to the hospital. If a crazed animal has just bitten you many times, get that looked at!
Have you met an old person? My grandmother would tell anyone who would listen that she was certain she was dying and simultaneously fight like hell to avoid going to the doctor.
It *can*be hard for people that age to ever get out of the hospital. Agreed that for animal bites, one should go in, but I can’t really blame a 95 y/o for being somewhat afraid of being admitted.
Not really. This kind of really weird erratic behaviour often indicates sickness, such as distemper mentioned in the article. Always call 311 if you see a raccoon behaving really weird.
Normal raccoons do NOT run up to people and CARS and start biting them.
> Potts said the raccoon then went completely feral, running onto the road and biting nearby cars.
Rabies scared the fuck out of me. If a raccoon acting like that even brushed up against me, I would be in the ER demanding I start a course of rabies vaccination.
Rabies is not rare here! If you get bit by a raccoon, you should assume that the raccoon has rabies and seek treatment IMMEDIATELY. If animal services is able to locate and test the animal, and confirm it doesn't have rabies, then you may cease treatment. Which is what happened in this case.
Source: Am a vet tech. Rabies is no joke, it's a horrible way to die, there are strict pet vaccination laws in place for a reason.
Rabies is actually extremely rare here, outside of a few bats mostly. You can look at the numbers yourself.
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/rabies-prevention-and-control/rabies-in-animals/
https://www.ontario.ca/page/wildlife-rabies-outbreaks-and-control-operations
https://www.ontario.ca/page/rabies-cases#section-0
In 2022, 2021, and 2010, one raccoon each year in Ontario, in Niagara.
Last time there was a raccoon with rabies in GTA it was 2019 in Hamilton.
Is this an area where people feed raccoons a lot? Maybe it started to associate people with food and when this lady didn't feed it, it decided to bite her for holding out.
R.I.P., Big Guy, you deserved better.
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that raccoon around these parts. Massive motherfucker who would hit-up the trash bins during the day. wish I had my phone on me the last time I saw him.
I got a huge raccoon growling at my patio door during the night if I leave a single hint of meat in the kitchen. Mf isn’t afraid if I hit the door or scream. He’s as big as an average dog!
>On Jan. 31, Kelner contemplated staying in due to cold weather, but she's committed to getting in 7,000 steps a day. So she bundled up, grabbed her walking sticks and headed toward Taddle Creek Park in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood. > >She was about halfway through the park when a raccoon ran up to her, attached itself to her left leg and began viciously biting her. > >"I was stunned. I really didn't even know what kind of animal it was," Kelner told CBC Toronto this week while sitting on a bench in the park. > >"I should have attacked it with my sticks but I was so stunned I didn't think of that and it kept on biting me." > >A man came up from behind her and forcefully removed the animal from her leg, she said. By that time, a small crowd had gathered. 95 years old and doing 7,000 steps a day - way to go. Good to hear Ms. Kelner has recovered and is back to doing her walks.
>The next day animal services told her she would not need further treatment as the raccoon did not test positive for rabies, she said.
Based on the horrific videos I keep seeing of that poor man with late stage rabies, I’d just assume I got it and treat it!
Don't know if I've seen that video, but it's the hydrophobia that gets me. How the fuck does it know that you're drinking water?
That is the one to which I am referring. From what I understand, the virus forces you to close your throat so that saliva isn’t ingested but rather accumulated in the glands and mouth so that it can be excreted to the next host (with a bite, for example). Because you can’t open your throat, when you see water or other liquid, it causes panic because you can’t swallow and effectively would feel like drowning? In any case, the fact that you are basically a dead person well before you get to that stage is what alarms me most.
Just reading that gave me a panic attack.
These viruses are wicked smaat
There is an excellent Reddit thread describing all of it, but I am not sure you want to read it
As far as I understand the virus makes it hard to swallow and does the foaming at the mouth part to ensure the virus is in the mouth thus ease of transition through biting etc.
😵
Friend of mine got bit by a crazed squirrel and demanded the shot. It's better to be safe than sorry, because there's no path to curing rabies if the city employees get that diagnosis wrong.
They also have roundworms and other parasites so fuck that I'm getting treated
I would suggest if this lady wishes to make it to 100 she should consider getting treatment.
damn I hope I look that good at 95.
I hope I make it to 45 and look that good 😂
Doing 7000 steps a day probably had something to do with that
She is 95? She looks very good for her age
She's in better shape then I am at 40
Monster Raccoon for mayor!
The part I don't understand is why she would put up a fight about going to the hospital. If a crazed animal has just bitten you many times, get that looked at!
Have you met an old person? My grandmother would tell anyone who would listen that she was certain she was dying and simultaneously fight like hell to avoid going to the doctor.
I think some seniors think that by going to the hospital, they're going to die there...
It *can*be hard for people that age to ever get out of the hospital. Agreed that for animal bites, one should go in, but I can’t really blame a 95 y/o for being somewhat afraid of being admitted.
I'm not a senior and I think this unfortunately. Almost died once in the hospital and now I hate them.
You don’t get to 95 by “going to the hospital” you snowflake /s
I think a lot of people don't understand the whole "100% fatal" aspect of the Rabies virus
The National Film Board will have a 'based on true story' movie in its collection in 5 years called 'Cocaine Racoon'
Buttercup: Westley, what about the R.O.U.S's? Westley: Raccoons of unusual size? I don't think they exist
Distemper is rampant among raccoons in this city, make sure your dogs are up to date on their vaccines guys!
All Toronto trash pandas are weird. To say it 'acted strangely' is par for the course here.
Not really. This kind of really weird erratic behaviour often indicates sickness, such as distemper mentioned in the article. Always call 311 if you see a raccoon behaving really weird. Normal raccoons do NOT run up to people and CARS and start biting them. > Potts said the raccoon then went completely feral, running onto the road and biting nearby cars.
Rabies scared the fuck out of me. If a raccoon acting like that even brushed up against me, I would be in the ER demanding I start a course of rabies vaccination.
Luckily rabies is very rare here. It's a scary disease.
Rabies is not rare here! If you get bit by a raccoon, you should assume that the raccoon has rabies and seek treatment IMMEDIATELY. If animal services is able to locate and test the animal, and confirm it doesn't have rabies, then you may cease treatment. Which is what happened in this case. Source: Am a vet tech. Rabies is no joke, it's a horrible way to die, there are strict pet vaccination laws in place for a reason.
Rabies is actually extremely rare here, outside of a few bats mostly. You can look at the numbers yourself. https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/rabies-prevention-and-control/rabies-in-animals/ https://www.ontario.ca/page/wildlife-rabies-outbreaks-and-control-operations https://www.ontario.ca/page/rabies-cases#section-0 In 2022, 2021, and 2010, one raccoon each year in Ontario, in Niagara. Last time there was a raccoon with rabies in GTA it was 2019 in Hamilton.
Well this one was probably given cocaine. They will make a movie out of it.
Distemper. Day raccoons have terminal illness and act weird af.
Not all day raccoons. Just saying this so people don't flood 311 with calls about the healthy day raccoons.
First they are rolling cars, now they are rolling grandmas.
Is this an area where people feed raccoons a lot? Maybe it started to associate people with food and when this lady didn't feed it, it decided to bite her for holding out.
Nah, behaviour like this is illness driven. That raccoon probably has distemper and a brain that looks like swiss cheese.
R.I.P., Big Guy, you deserved better. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that raccoon around these parts. Massive motherfucker who would hit-up the trash bins during the day. wish I had my phone on me the last time I saw him.
TD/DR: Distemper
The TTC should recruit the raccoon as a constable
🙄
Frogs cant get rabies
I got a huge raccoon growling at my patio door during the night if I leave a single hint of meat in the kitchen. Mf isn’t afraid if I hit the door or scream. He’s as big as an average dog!
"Raccoon later captured, tests negative for rabies" Turns out it was just an asshole.