‘It was a monster’: Somerville recalls raccoon attack that left her hospitalized

A Somerville woman is recovering from scratch and bite wounds after she was viciously attacked by a raccoon while letting her dogs out on Friday night Katherine Vanbuskirk says the raccoon would not stop biting and scratching her in her garden on Chester Street I was hurling it off of me and it would come right back at me she recalled It was truly terrifying She narrated NEWS I opened the door and I was literally attacked by a large animal at first it came at my face and I started screaming Her first thought she stated was to protect her dogs but she was put on the defensive Four times it bit me she declared Luckily I m OK Her warning for others is to be aware that selected animals in their neighborhood can be dangerous Nature is not all bunnies she noted This was a little monster literally a monster that assaulted me Vanbuskirk will need two more rabies shots and says she s thankful for the hospital staff that came to her aid