Residents of a New Hampshire suburb are being urged to remain cautious after reports of a mysterious wild animal attacking people in Centerra Park since Sunday, August 30. The Lebanon Police Department has received three reports of encounters with the creature, which has been described as unusually aggressive. The incidents have raised concerns among local authorities and residents, prompting warnings to avoid the area and stay alert for the animal’s presence. One of the encounters was captured on video, showing the animal running from a grassy area into a car park, darting under a U-Haul truck, and appearing to lunge at a driver. The footage shows the creature jumping at the driver, who tries to fend it off with an object. However, the animal tears the object away and latches onto the driver’s leg. The driver eventually shakes the creature off, and another person jumps out of the way as the animal retreats under the van and disappears into the woods. Police have confirmed two additional attacks involving what appears to be the same animal. Authorities have advised the public not to approach the creature, as it has reportedly displayed aggressive behavior toward people. They have also urged locals to be cautious in wooded or brush-covered areas where wildlife may be present. While the species has not been officially confirmed, witnesses have speculated it could be a gray fox or a fisher, a small carnivorous mammal related to weasels. Its aggressive behavior has raised concerns about the possibility of rabies. Lebanon Police Department Chief Phillip Roberts told local media that the attacks are concerning, especially because the animal is scratching and biting people. He emphasized that anyone bitten or scratched by a wild animal should wash the affected area with soap and water and seek medical attention to determine if rabies treatment is needed. Authorities also reminded the public to maintain a safe distance from aggressive wildlife and to contact police if they encounter the animal. The recent incidents are part of a broader trend of animal attacks across the United States during the summer. For example, a Colorado woman in her 80s suffered abdominal injuries when a bear broke into her home in Estes Park on August 27. Authorities believe such incidents are linked to natural food shortages caused by low mountain snowpack, wildfires, and drought. These conditions are pushing bears and other wildlife to take greater risks in search of food, as they prepare for hyperphagia—a period of intense eating to build up fat reserves for hibernation.