This cache was hidden & is dedicated to a brave little girl that endured a horrific raccoon attack on Friday the 13th, in April of 2012. She is our granddaughter, Kaelyn. She was 6 yrs old at the time & her brother, Rylan was 11 months old. The kids & myself (Barb) were at the playground for only 5 minutes & then walked over towards the restrooms. Not far from the location of this cache, a raccoon bolted out from the mangroves. We started to run & Kaelyn fell. The raccoon latched on to her left arm & was growling. Kaelyn & Rylan were both screaming. I knelt down with Rylan in one arm & was punching the raccoon with the other. I also kicked it and knelt on it at one point. Kaelyn was being viciously attacked & I was hoping that the raccoon wouldn't attack Rylan as well. After what seemed like an eternity, we were finally able to climb up on a nearby picnic table. The raccoon still came at us while I was standing on the bench. Terrified & in shock, I managed to get the kids to the car & sped off to the nearest hospital. Kaelyn NEVER cried the whole time! I felt so helpless during the attack & I feel guilty for her having gone through this. Kaelyn ended up with a huge bite wound on her arm, bite wounds to her hip & deep claw marks on her back. I received a puncture wound & scratch on my left foot. Both of us had to undergo Rabies treatments, tetanus shot, & antibiotics. Unfortunately, we will be scarred physically & emotionally probably for life. Kaelyn, Rylan & her mom, (my daughter) were probably on every news station with the story. Another woman had been viciously attacked 2 days before us at the same park. A police officer that was driving through the parking lot on a routine patrol approached us as we were getting in the car. She had no idea about the attack. After we left for the hospital, the raccoon charged her twice & she says that she shot it 3 times, but it ran off into the mangroves. Animal Control trapped 2 raccoons that night & Brevard County Parks & Rec. ended up closing the park for 3 days. A private trapper caught about a dozen more raccoons. We never heard if any tested positive for rabies.
Some important things that we have learned are:
*Wildlife aren't always cute & afraid of humans.
*You can NOT be treated with the rabies vaccine at your doctor's office or a walk-in clinic, only at the Health Department or Emergency Room. The Rabies Immune Globulin shots cost $2000.00 each per 10mg. (10mg per 100lbs of your weight) That is at cost from the Health Department. I received mine at the E.R where the hospital bill with all the medications and treatment cost over $13,000.00. The 3 follow up vaccines, at the Health Dept. cost $200.00 each. This is a quote from the Health Dept: "Regardless of your ability to pay, treatment WILL be provided to you. You must NOT allow cost to influence your decision for treatment. RABIES IS A FATAL DISEASE!"
*Rabies are spread from bites, scratches & contact with infected saliva.