Wright-Locke Farm Executive Director: 'First Time I Have Ever Seen a Raccoon on Farm'

WINCHESTER MA—An Arlington family dealt with a frightful rabies scare while enjoying a comfortable St. Patrick's day afternoon at Winchester's Wright-Locke Farm.

A four-year-old Arlington girl was bitten on the ear while enjoying the afternoon with her mother. After the raccoon was deceased, its brain tissue was sent for rabies testing, yielding positive results. Wright-Locke Farm Executive Director Archie McIntyre was able to react quickly once he found out the child had been bitten.

"Luckily, when the child was bitten, I was in the Farm Office, not more that 30 yards away," McIntyre told Patch."The first thing I did was call 911. Then I saw the raccoon walking away and I was able to follow it into our 1827 Barn where we trapped it in one of our horse stalls."

After McIntyre was able to trap the raccoon, Winchester Police, Animal Control and emergency medical technicians took over and transported the child to the hospital. She is expected to make a full recovery.

McIntyre also told Patch that the farm hasn't had a bite incident like this since 2010 when he arrived, and he hasn't seen a raccoon at the farm during his tenure.

"It appears to be an isolated incident with the raccoon traveling through the Farm from another area nearby,"

Photo Credit: Wright Locke Farm Facebook page.