A mysterious wild animal has been terrorizing a neighborhood in New Hampshire after a third attack by the creature was reported in less than two days.
Police in Lebanon, a city on the Connecticut River in western New Hampshire, warned locals about attacks near Centerra Park that began Sunday.
“Since the initial report, the Police Department has received information regarding two additional attacks involving what appears to be the same wild animal,” Lebanon Police wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
Authorities said the most recent attack happened Monday evening and that witnesses described the animal as either a gray fox or a fisher, which is a member of the weasel family.
Lebanon Police warned residents not to approach the animal as it has “reportedly displayed unusually aggressive behavior toward people.”
Video of one of the attacks obtained by police has been shared by several media outlets, appearing to show the animal running up to a person next to a U-Haul truck in an empty parking lot surrounded by greenery.
The person is seen shaking the animal off their leg as another person jumps out of the way.
Lebanon Police asks anyone who sees a fox, fisher or other wild animal behaving erratically to find safety and then contact them.
Authorities are particularly concerned about rabies exposure since aggressive or unusual behavior in wild animals can be associated with the viral disease.
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms start, so officials advise people who may have been infected to act fast.
“Anyone who is bitten or scratched by a wild animal should immediately wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek prompt medical attention at a hospital or other appropriate medical facility,” Lebanon Police said.
The department’s officers have not encountered the animal themselves as of Tuesday, but they are monitoring the area and working with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
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