Man Survives Bobcat Attack by Choking Animal to Death

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AGCHAWK
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Man Survives Bobcat Attack by Choking Animal to Death

Post by AGCHAWK » Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:47 am

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A 62-year-old Florida man depended on his instincts when a bobcat attacked him, and it paid off — he survived, the bobcat didn't.

Dale Rippy, a resident of Wesley Chapel, Florida, was pulling trashcans back to his house May 30 when he saw what he thought was a large cat. After realizing the animal was actually a bobcat, he set the trashcans down and prepared for an attack.

Having grown up on a farm, Rippy said he knew the bobcat would attack when it didn’t run away after seeing him.

“When it growled, I knew it was going to jump and bite me,” he said.

The animal then jumped on him and began to scratch and bite. Rippy said he knew if he could get a good hold on the animal, he would be able to choke it, even if that meant letting the bobcat take a couple of bites.

“I started choking it when got a good hold,” he said. “I choked it ‘til he died. I got scratched up pretty good.”

Rippy never had to go to the hospital, but was examined at a doctor’s office due to puncture wounds on his stomach and scratches.

After the attack, his neighbor called the police, who then called animal control. After the animal was inspected, it was found to be infected with rabies.

Rippy said now, he and his neighbor that helped him after the attack have to have rabies shots.

“It attacked me because it was sick,” he said.

Rippy said he has lived in his home 25 miles north of Tampa for 13 years and, although he has seen a panther and other animals in the wooded area behind his house, that was the first time he had ever seen a bobcat.

He also said those around him were very surprised about the attack and how he saved himself by killing the animal.

“The bobcat was big enough that it could have really hurt somebody, especially since it had rabies,” he said.
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Last edited by AGCHAWK on Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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MuleyMadness
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Post by MuleyMadness » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:57 am

Good grief, crazy. No clue a Bobcat would do that myself.

NUTS!

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AGCHAWK
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Post by AGCHAWK » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:18 am

Apparently it was rabid. I didn't notice it when I first posted it but I didn't get the whole story. I have since added the rest.
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kadejones2
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Post by kadejones2 » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:03 pm

that man is lucky

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bigbuck92
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Post by bigbuck92 » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:15 pm

wow. that would be scary. hes lucky hes ok
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Post by killerbee » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:39 pm

Dang, sorry i just posted this same story on the bear/coyote section. i'll delete it. But crazy huh?

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Post by southwind » Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:54 pm

As I started reading it I thought something had to be wrong with the cat because Bob's just are not known to attack humans. You just don't hear of it unless they are seriously cornered. The rabies makes sense.

I do remember an attack by three bobcats on a hunter where the cats were over a deer kill. Again almost never heard of.

I would not want to take one on. Tuff old boy choking that dude.

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Post by a_bow_nut » Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:06 pm

If treetop gets a chance maybe he will tell you about his adventure with a bobcat while we were down hunting deer over by the coral pink sand dunes. It had both of us shook up.
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Post by TheGreatwhitehunter » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:59 am

wow that is nuts
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MULEY7MM
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Post by MULEY7MM » Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:15 pm

Now thats a crazy story

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