Cherokee County man drives an hour with raccoon in his coat, gets bitten in face, later learns it had rabies

ROSWELL, Ga. — A Cherokee County man’s attempt to rescue an injured raccoon spiraled into a bizarre and dangerous rabies scare this week at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, according to a statement from the center.

Officials said the man found the raccoon vocalizing in the road and, lacking anything to keep the raccoon isolated in, he wrapped it in his coat and held it against his chest for more than an hour while driving to the nature center, despite the center being listed to not accept raccoons.

During the drive, the raccoon freed its head and bit the man on the face and hands, according to the center. He then drove home, secured the raccoon in a blanket with duct tape and proceeded to the nature center, arriving an hour before its wildlife clinic opened. Children were simultaneously