ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LOTTSBURG
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
A rabid river otter that attacked a man unloading groceries from his car and chased the man's wife into their Northumberland County home was killed when it returned about a half-hour later.
It was the third report of a rabid animal on the Northern Neck this spring, and the unusual attack left its victim - Northumberland County Commissioner of Revenue Todd Thomas - wishing he'd been robbed instead.
``I believe I'd rather have had a burglar,'' he said.
The otter's attack trapped Thomas and his daughter in their car, while his wife, Stacy, fled to their house with the otter grabbing at her pocketbook.
Stacy Thomas, scratched as she dashed for the door in the Monday night attack, began a painful series of rabies shots Wednesday.
Health officials said otters, which grow to about 3 feet long, normally are reclusive and almost never contract rabies because of their isolation.
``It's quite rare,'' said Rick Cox of the Three Rivers Health District. ``I believe we're going to ship its head to the Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention] to have the virus typed out to see exactly what strain it is.''
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