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Raccoon victim recovers slowly

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com

Published: October 6, 2009

TAMPA - Two days after attacking a 74-year-old Lakeland woman, a pack of raccoons remained on the loose Monday.

Gretchen Whitted was seriously injured in the attack about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at her home on Waterford Drive. She is in fair condition at Lakeland Regional Medical Center and needs more treatment, Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said Monday.

"I don't think she's doing so well right now," Whitted's daughter Lisa Bilik said. "She may need skin grafting. ... I guess below her knee are the worst of the wounds.

"She's got scarring down her face and her chest is covered with scratches and her back is covered with scratches and she's in pretty rough shape," Bilik said.

On Saturday, Whitted heard a noise outside her house and saw five raccoons in her backyard. The animals moved to her front yard and she opened her front door to wave them away. When she did, the raccoons attacked, biting and scratching her. Whitted fell and the animals continued to attack.
Whitted told investigators the mother might have been trying to protect her young.

Investigators won't know whether Whitted was exposed to rabies until they catch the raccoons.

News Channel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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