Recently, a series of small but highly aggressive animal attacks have occurred in western New Hampshire, with one of the incidents being caught on camera.
The video captured the first attack incident. In the footage, a man was seen getting off a U-Haul truck in a vacant parking lot near Centerra Park in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Suddenly, a mysterious animal appeared out of nowhere and lunged at the man’s legs. Initially caught off guard, the man kicked the small animal away, but it attacked him again.
The Lebanon Police Department stated that since August 30, they have received reports of three attack incidents, all believed to be carried out by the same unidentified animal, with the attacks occurring near Centerra Park.
Initially, people believed the animal to be a fisher cat, a small member of the weasel family. However, since the Lebanon police have not personally witnessed the animal, they cannot confirm if it is indeed a fisher cat.
After being attacked for the second time in the video, the man used something in his hand to strike the animal, distracting it and causing it to momentarily flee. At the same time, a car passing by witnessed the situation. As the man walked to the back of the U-Haul truck to retrieve his forgotten items, someone from the car got out to help. The animal once again charged towards him.
The man retreated and attempted to escape, but the animal bit his leg, and he struggled to break free. The person from the car ran towards them in an attempt to assist, and eventually, they managed to shake the creature off. Both individuals then left, watching as the small animal quickly slipped under the U-Haul truck. After a while, they approached the animal, scaring it away and driving it back into the woods.
The police urge people in the Centerra Park area to exercise caution when walking near wooded areas or thickets, advising them to stay vigilant.
Authorities emphasize, “Do not approach, attempt to capture, feed, or interact with the animal in any other way. If anyone encounters a fox, fisher cat, or other wildlife behaving abnormally, aggressively, or coming close to humans, they should immediately seek a safe location and contact the Lebanon Police Department.”
Lebanon police warn that the animal’s behavior is likely due to rabies infection, which can be fatal to humans. Anyone bitten or scratched by a wild animal should thoroughly clean the affected area with soap and water, and seek medical attention immediately at a hospital or another appropriate healthcare facility to determine if rabies post-exposure treatment is necessary.
In a press release regarding the attack incidents, the Lebanon Police Department stated, “The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game has been notified, and coordination with them on these incidents is underway.”
(Adapted from a report by FOX WEATHER)