Idaho
Idaho mother discovers infant being attacked by raccoon inside home in 'extremely rare' encounter
A bewildered mom happened upon her infant son being attacked by a raccoon that had snuck inside their Idaho home and successfully fended off the unlikely holiday visitor.
The mother called the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office Dec. 23 after she heard “a loud noise in the home” and discovered the raccoon attacking her baby boy, Idaho Fish and Game shared in a release.
Authorities said the mother managed to grab the furry intruder to save her son.
BIRD FLU CAUSES DEATHS OF CATS AND ZOO ANIMALS AS VIRUS SPREADS IN US
Idaho Fish and Game said a wild raccoon snuck into a home and attacked an infant. (Idaho Fish and Game)
The infant was taken to the Cassia Regional Hospital in Burley for undisclosed injuries before being transferred to a hospital in Salt Lake City.
According to officials, a sheriff’s deputy returned to the home with the baby’s father, located the animal and killed it.
IDFG noted it was unclear how the raccoon got inside the home and that there were no other raccoons inside.
COMPLETE MASTODON JAW FOUND IN NEW YORK HOMEOWNER’S BACKYARD: ‘REMARKABLE DISCOVERY’
The animal’s carcass has since been tested for rabies by the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories, and tests were negative, the release said.
“Once notified of the incident, staff from the Magic Valley Region activated their Wildlife Human Attack Response Team,” the IDFG wrote. “This specially trained team of department staff has the responsibility to act to protect the safety of the public and incident responders; attempt to identify, locate, and control the animal(s) involved in a human-wildlife incident; and conduct, document and report investigative findings.”
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted to humans through the bite of a rabid animal. (iStock)
The agency noted that raccoon attacks on humans in the state are “extremely rare” and that there has only been one case of raccoon rabies documented in Idaho.
The IDFG instructed Idahoans to “never purposely feed a raccoon,” saying they generally avoid humans unless they feel “threatened.”
“As with all wildlife that can be found around homes in Idaho, the best course of action to avoid raccoon encounters is to take preventative actions before a problem starts,” the department wrote. “Raccoons can live in a variety of habitats, but an area with access to water and food will attract them.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“A homeowner can limit food sources by securing residential garbage, removing any fallen fruit or rotten produce from your yard or garden, feeding pets indoors, keeping pet food securely stored, and removing or securing bird feeders,” IDFG added. “Blocking raccoon access to hiding places in sheds and outbuildings and sealing off potential entryways and exits in and around a home will also discourage raccoon use.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the IDFG for comment.
Idaho
Large police presence near Taco Bell in Blackfoot – East Idaho News
BLACKFOOT — A large contingent of Blackfoot Police officers has cordoned off an area near the Taco Bell on Parkway Drive in Blackfoot.
Police responded around 5 p.m., according to multiple witnesses who contacted EastIdahoNews.com.
EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Blackfoot Police for details.
We will update this story as we learn more.
=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>
Idaho
Idaho angler reels in record 43.25-inch lake trout at Payette Lake
MISSOULA, Mont. — An Idaho Falls angler is back in the Idaho record books after landing a record-setting lake trout at Payette Lake.
Idaho Fish and Game said Dylan Smith caught and released a 43.25-inch lake trout on May 2, setting a new state catch-and-release record for the species. The fish surpassed the previous record of 42 inches.
The catch marks Smith’s second appearance in Idaho’s record books. He previously held the state catch-and-release lake trout record after landing a trophy fish in 2018 before that mark was later broken.
According to Fish and Game, Payette Lake has become one of Idaho’s premier lake trout fisheries thanks to years of management efforts aimed at improving both lake trout and kokanee populations.
Idaho
Boise’s North End finds new way to mark Pride after Idaho law halts flag display
Pride Month looks different this June along Boise’s Harrison Boulevard, where a long-standing tradition of hanging Pride flags on lamp posts has been put on hold after a new state law restricted which flags can be flown on government property.
For several years, Pride flags lined lamp posts along Harrison Boulevard in Boise’s North End neighborhood. But Idaho House Bill 561, signed by Gov. Brad Little in March, restricts which flags can be flown on government property, including the City of Boise’s Harrison lamp posts.
In response, a group of neighbors formed Pride North End and launched a distribution effort to help residents show support from their own front yards. The group has been making Pride flags and yard signs available to people who want to display them at home.
“I thought that I would…be a personal example of ‘yes, this is what I do.’ This is what I believe in,” said Edna Schochat, a North End resident.
Pride North End has already distributed more than 900-yard signs and 250 flags. The group’s original donation goal was around $2,000 to order 100 flags and 200 yard signs, but it has exceeded that GoFundMe goal, reaching $10,000 worth of donations.
The group plans to continue holding public flag and sign distributions through the end of the month.
“We cannot just say something without doing something that proves that we mean what we say,” Schochat said.
Pride North End said any leftover funds after materials are distributed will go to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. A link to the group’s GoFundMe can be found here.
-
Utah5 minutes ago
Edwin Munk Woolley — Obituary | Larkin Mortuary
-
Vermont8 minutes agoExperienced pros have Vermont Green women’s team on cusp of USLW playoffs
-
Virginia13 minutes agoVirginia Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Night results for June 24, 2026
-
Wisconsin23 minutes ago
Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 24, 2026
-
West Virginia28 minutes agoMorrisey announces more than $700,000 to support rural domestic violence and sexual assault victims
-
Wyoming35 minutes agoPolitics in the Park: GOP gubernatorial candidates share visions for Wyoming governor
-
Crypto38 minutes agoThe cryptocurrency industry has entered the “Show Me” era: merely relying on vision is no longer enough | WEEX Crypto News
-
Finance44 minutes agoQuadient Recognized as a Leader in the 2026 SPARK Matrix for Accounts Receivable Applications