A trapped raccoon (Photo by Joshua Yospyn)

A federal police officer shot himself today while trying to fend off a raccoon, according to the U.S. Park Police.

The officer was attacked by the animal and shot himself in the foot during the incident. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Another officer on the scene killed the animal, which will be removed by animal control officials.

The incident took place around noon on Horse Stable Lane in Northwest. It isn’t clear what the officers were doing in the area or what, if anything, provoked the attack.

The ordeal lasted about 10 to 15 minutes, Anna Rose, spokesperson for the Park Police, told DCist. This is “definitely not typical” for an officer to encounter, she says.

Any time a firearm is dispatched, the U.S. Park Police investigates, according to Rose, but “this is pretty clearly a defense mechanism.”