Bobcat in Virginia Attacks Three People, Injuring Two

Three people were attacked by a bobcat in Virginia on Wednesday, in an altercation that law enforcement officials said led to a man sustaining serious injuries after he ended up "in a wrestling match with the cat."

The attack happened on Wednesday, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia according to Grayson County Sheriff's Office. In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office said that two men and a woman were attacked by the animal.

"A man at the scene grabbed the bobcat by the rear legs and ended up in a wrestling match with the cat. He sustained serious wounds to his legs and arms," the sheriff's office wrote.

The man sustained "serious wounds to his legs and arms," and was flown to a hospital, but is now recovering from the attack at home. The other man was treated for minor injuries following the attack.

The sheriff's office also noted that there was also a recent report of a bobcat attacking cattle, and a dog in the area.

"At one point, the cat also attempted to enter a house through an open door," the sheriff's office stated.

On Thursday, the sheriff's office said that a bobcat was struck and killed by a vehicle, and was sent to health officials for "examination and testing."

In a Friday morning Facebook post, the Mount Rogers Health District said that "a bobcat has been found and sent for testing, but there is no way to confirm that it is THE bobcat. Residents are, as always, urged to exercise caution when encountering wild animals."

Later Friday, the health district said that the bobcat that had been struck by a car and killed Thursday had tested positive for rabies. The health officials noted that rabies is "most commonly transmitted by a bite, but also may be transmitted by saliva or brain tissue of a rabid animal coming into contact with eyes, mucous membranes, or open wounds."

The sheriff's office noted that bobcat attacks are rare.

"It is extremely unlikely to be attacked by a bobcat, especially during the day. Anyone who observes animals out during the day that don't run off right away should contact animal control or the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Wildlife conflict helpline at 855-571-9003," the office stated.

In April, a video of a man a bobcat attack in North Carolina went viral. The video shows a man throwing a bobcat after it attacked his wife.

Uncommon Knowledge

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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