Kinkajou Repeatedly Bites Elderly Woman (Pic For The Kinkajou-Challenged)

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PONTOTOC, Miss. --An elderly Pontotoc County woman received 20 stitches after being attacked and repeatedly bitten by a kinkajou, a raccoon-like pet that had escaped from a home five miles away.

Sadie Hester, 82, said she heard her dogs barking and fighting with something on the front porch Friday night.

"I went out there Saturday morning about 8 to clean up the porch because they'd torn everything up," she said. "I thought whatever it was, was gone. I never saw him."

Hester said as she started sweeping, the kinkajou jumped on her and wrapped his tail around her arm.

"He kept biting my hands because I was trying to pry his teeth out of my hands," she said. "I just kept trying to get him off, and he tore up my left arm pretty bad."

Hester got 16 stitches in her left arm and four in her right hand. She also received several bites that did not require stitches.

Sheriff Leo Mask said Hester's son captured the animal, tied it up and took it to the hospital. It was taken to a veterinarian's office to be observed for rabies.

The son also was bitten but was not seriously injured.

Although it resembles a monkey and is often referred to as the "night monkey," the kinkajou is kin to the raccoon. Kinkajous usually weigh 4 to 8 pounds and range in color from cream to dark brown.

The kinkajou is a tree dweller, a native of the tropical rainforest zone of Central and South America.

Despite rumors that other kinkajous are loose in the area, Mask said his department is aware only of the one.

Authorities are unsure if the animal's owner will face charges in the attack.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/11/15/kinkajou_repeatedly_attacks_elderly_woman?mode=PF