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Stow Resident Attacked By Suspected Rabid Bobcat

 

A bobcat, that is believed to be rabid, attacked Justin Plowden of Stow Maine biting his face and scratching his back. ~ Photo Courtesy of Carolynn Plowden

STOW, ME – A young man in Maine was attacked by a bobcat last night. According to Carolynn Plowden She was driving home with her son at around 7pm Wednesday when they spotted a bobcat in the the road a slight distance from their Union Hill home in Stow Maine.

After passing the animal Plowden said that her son, Justin, told her that the animal appeared to be following them.

After a few minutes of being home the family was told by a neighbor that a bobcat was headed towards their home through the woods.

The bobcat pictured above is believed to be rabid and attacked a young man in Stow Wednesday. ~ Photo Courtesy of Carolynn Plowden

Plowden said that the animal was acting very unusually.  Saying “It  had no fear. In the driveway my son looked out his window and saw it find a folded up tarp and just attack it, and start biting it.” She added that the animal seemed to have no reaction to her three dogs who were all barking at it from inside their home.

She said the animal then made its way into their barn. Her husband, John, and Justin shut the back door of the barn leaving the animal with just one exit so they could keep an eye on it. They then called Maine Game Wardens in order to confirm that it was in fact a bobcat and not a Lynx.

Plowden said the animal then leapt onto Justin biting his face and scratching his back.

A bobcat, that is believed to be rabid, attacked Justin Plowden of Stow Maine causing these puncture wounds to Justin’s back. ~ Photo Courtesy of Carolynn Plowden

Luckily John was able to get the animal off of Justin, but not without getting scratched himself. They attempted to shoot the animal, but it unfortunately ran off into the woods.

As a precaution both John and Justin have been treated for rabies.

Anyone who spots a bobcat, or other animal, acting suspiciously in the Stow and Lovell area is urged to contact the Maine Game Wardens at 1-800-228-0857.