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Rabid Skunk Bites Woman

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP — A rabid skunk is now dead in Luzerne County after it harmed a dog and then went on to bite a woman. People who live along Nicholso...

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP -- A rabid skunk is now dead in Luzerne County after it harmed a dog and then went on to bite a woman.

People who live along Nicholson Street in Wilkes-Barre Township say they're shocked to hear a woman was bitten on her foot by a rabid skunk. Some say they're not surprised to hear a skunk was out and about here during the day when the animals are usually sleeping because they see skunks often.

"We've had problems with skunks in the area for quite some time now."

Rebecca Suchkus lives in the neighborhood in Wilkes-Barre Township where the state reports a rabid skunk bit a woman. She sometimes sees skunks roaming the yards along Nicholson Street during the day.

"It is scary because there's a lot of kids in the neighborhood, and I don't want to see any of the kids get bit by the skunk," Suchkus said.

But it's what a skunk did last week to a woman in this neighborhood that has residents on edge.

"I definitely got my eye open for the little critters," Matthew Fritz said.

Authorities from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture say a skunk that tested positive for rabies was seen Nicholson Street in Wilkes-Barre Township. In the middle of the day, it sprayed a dog, then, they say it later bit a woman on her foot.

"Hopefully she's OK. That's frightening," Fritz added.

"Now she has to go through a series of shots on top of the fear of being bit by a skunk!" said Jean Lokuta.

Lokuta saw another skunk running towards her and her dog during the daytime just last week.

"I grabbed my dog and ran back towards my house because I didn't know what the skunk was going to do, because as far as I know, skunks don't chase you."

Authorities advise that if you see a wild animal acting aggressively or unusually, you should call your community's animal control officer.

"You try to handle it, and you're going to end up getting sprayed or bit. It's scary! "

The state department of health wouldn't release the name of the woman who was bitten or her condition, only saying she was treated.

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