Hersheypark says raccoon attack not believed to be rabies-related; young animal not found

Susan Miers Smith, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 11—A raccoon caused a stir when it wandered into the line of people waiting to board the SooperDooperLooper roller coaster ride on March 29 at Hersheypark in Derry Township, Dauphin County. It became frightened, according to video of the incident posted April 4 by TMZ and then appeared to attack the shoe of a girl.

Two people were taken to a hospital for observation after injuries that were generally consistent with scratches from an animal, according to Quinn Bryner, director of public relations at Hersheypark.

"While we are an amusement park that is surrounded by nature and has been in operation for over 100 years, this is the first incident that we can recall of what appeared to be a young, frightened raccoon acting in this manner," she said in an email April 9 and had told other media outlets earlier. "We do have extensive fencing to help prevent this type of incident from occurring."

The raccoon shown in the video was not captured so it could not be tested for rabies.

"Since the incident last Friday (March 29), we have actively monitored the area in question and have partnered with animal experts to help relocate as necessary," Bryner said.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission does not recommend relocating any nuisance species that could potentially harbor rabies. Among the rabies vector species listed by the PGC are skunks, raccoons, bats, groundhogs, foxes and coyotes.

"There has been no indication that rabies was implicated in the incident at Hersheypark," Bryner responded when asked if any raccoons had been destroyed since the incident.

The only way an animal can be tested for rabies is for it to be killed and its brain tissue examined according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hersheypark would not confirm if the skin was broken on either person taken to the hospital after the incident.

The National Institutes of Health recommends preventive rabies vaccination if a human has been bitten or scratched by a rabies vector species.