A raccoon attacked a 6-year-old boy as he walked to school before a neighbor beat the animal to death Wednesday morning, authorities said.
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The child was walking with his mother on 16th Avenue, near Boulevard, when a large raccoon ran up behind them, jumped on the boy's back and latched onto his face, according to police Chief Michael Foligno.
The animal scratched and bit the boy, Foligno added. A man who lives nearby intervened and hit the raccoon with a painter's pole.
Foligno said the boy suffered "significant" cuts to his face and was treated at Hackensack University Medical Center.
There have been no other reports of aggressive raccoons in the area, the chief said.
Results of rabies testing were expected to be available Friday.
Foligno said the borough schools superintendent was also alerted.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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