Woman bites camel to save herself after freak encounter in Iberville Parish

GROSSE TETE – A woman had a freak and dangerous encounter with a camel in a field near a busy truck stop.

The camel, named Casper, is penned in a field at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete. Authorities said a woman was chasing after her loose dog when she was attacked by the camel which was spooked by the human and dog in its enclosure.

Authorities said a husband and wife later identified Edmond Clayton Lancaster and his wife Gloria Fraley Lancaster were tossing treats for their dog along the fence of the field, prompting the dog to run behind the fence.

The camel became startled and got violent toward the couple, who fought back.

"You can see they were pushing and pushing on the camel, swatting him with the hat and stuff like that," Pamela Bossier, an eyewitness, said.

The woman was eventually pinned by the camel, which sat on top of her, nearly crushing her.

Authorities said in an attempt to save herself, the woman bit the testicles of the camel so it would jump off of her. The woman then escaped, authorities said.

She was hospitalized for injuries related to the encounter with the camel.

The couple, from the Pensacola area of Florida, was issued tickets for trespassing and not having the dog on a leash.

**************

Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz