Andover Police are assuring residents that a woman’s interaction with a rabid raccoon is being treated as an isolated incident.
On Thursday, police responded to a Richdale convenience store on Railroad Street to aid a woman who had been bitten by an animal. The 75-year-old Andover resident told officers she was bitten by a raccoon on her left leg.
Responding officers and members of Animal Control said the raccoon was “extraordinarily aggressive” prior to capture. Upon capture, the animal was taken to a veterinary hospital and euthanized, testing positive for rabies.
The woman suffered non-life threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
Police Chief Patrick Keefe said Andover’s Health Department has no reason to believe other incidents have taken place.
“I commend our officers for confronting an aggressive animal and helping prevent it from harming anyone else,” Keefe said. “We want the public to be aware of the incident and ask that they call us if they see an animal that they believe may be sick.”
Residents are asked to call Andover Police at 978-475-0411 if they see any animals that appear to be acting aggressively.