According to widespread news reports, a pack of rampaging raccoons has killed at least ten cats in Washington State's capital city of Olympia (see a map of Washington State).

The masked marauders are also reported to have attacked a small dog and to have forced a pet owner to get rabies shots.

Local resident Lisann Rolle told the Associated Press (AP) that she was bitten when she tried to pull three raccoons off her cat. She says that she now carries an iron pipe when she ventures out at night.

Another resident, Tony Benjamins, told AP, "We used to love the raccoons. They'd have their babies this time of year, and they were so cute. Even though we lived in the city, it was neat to have wildlife around.

"But this year, things changed. They went nuts."

While this particular neighborhood seems to have a serious raccoon problem, the reports of the incidents may be giving raccoons in general a bum rap.