A 7-year-old boy fought off a raccoon that attacked him in his New Jersey backyard just weeks after a dog was bitten by a rabid raccoon in the same town, and authorities are concerned about more sick animals on the loose.
Police and animal control officials say the boy was bitten Sunday in Denville while playing in the backyard with his brother.
The boy kicked the raccoon off of him after it bit him in the leg, his father told NBC 4 New York. The raccoon was later caught and is being tested for rabies.
A raccoon also bit a dog in Denville on Feb. 26 near South Wynde Drive. The raccoon in that case was captured by animal control and was found to have rabies, police said.
The dog later died, but not from rabies. He was 13 and it's believed he died from the trauma of the attack.
Animal control authorities have set up traps near the woods.
