CHEROKEE COUNTY, Georgia (WUPA) — A Cherokee County man’s attempt to rescue an injured raccoon that he found in the middle of the road ended with him in the hospital being treated for a possible rabies infection.

Officials at the Chattahoochee Nature Center shared the story on Facebook over the weekend, saying it was an incident “that we feel needs to be addressed.”

According to the center, the man found the injured animal vocalizing in the road. Because he didn’t have anything to contain the wild animal, he wrapped the raccoon in his coat and “held it against his chest” as he drove for more than an hour to the nature center, which is not licensed to rehabilitate mammals.

At some point during the drive, officials say the raccoon got somewhat free and bit the man on his face and hands. H

See Full Page