Aggressive fox bites 2 people, steals sweater

Charlottesville and University of Virginia police on Wednesday brought in trappers to catch a fox near Lambeth Field that acted oddly aggressive to passersby and bit two people.

Police, wildlife and health officials said they hoped to catch the fox because it could be rabid. Foxes often contract the disease, although officials say the disease is far less common in foxes than in skunks and raccoons.

One of the people was bitten while jogging in the morning. The runner wound up stumbling and falling with a bite.

“There were four calls to the Emergency Communications Center and at least two people reported being bitten by the fox,” said Ric Barrick, Charlottesville spokesman. “Another report said the fox was acting strangely and another said it took someone’s sweater.”

Wildlife officials warn that wild animals should be considered wild and avoided by people.

“People should let wildlife go its own way,” said Ed Clark, director of the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro. “There’s also no way to be sure that a fox that’s trapped in the area is the fox that was acting aggressive, unless it’s wearing the sweater.”

Clark said there are a variety of potential reasons why an animal would act aggressively, including suffering stress from a sudden influx of people into the area of its den, especially if it had stores of food or young.

“That’s not to say this fox doesn’t have a problem,” Clark said. “It’s unusual for a fox to act aggressively to people under any circumstance. Although it’s a bit late in the year to have small kits [babies], there is a possibility that the fox is protecting its territory. It’s important to remember that, when we’re talking about any chance of rabies, the benefit of the doubt has to go in favor of assuming the worst.”

The two bite victims are being treated through personal physicians. Whether they will receive a series of shots to prevent rabies is up to the victims and their doctors, officials said.

“It’s important that, if anyone is bitten by a wild animal, they should contact the health department and their physician,” said Jeff McDaniel, of the Thomas Jefferson Health District’s environmental health division. “Rabies is endemic to the area and we deal with it a lot. It’s best to consult medical advice when you’ve been bitten to determine the best course of treatment.”

Rabies is most often found in bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks and woodchucks. Small animals such as squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice and rabbits are not considered risks.

The potentially deadly disease damages muscles involved in swallowing and invades the saliva glands. It also affects brain cells, causing hypersensitivity to touch, disorientation and hallucinations.

Medical officials recommend the site of a bite be cleaned with soap and water and a tetanus shot given. The normal procedure for administrating the rabies vaccine, if deemed prudent, includes shots on the first day of the bite followed by shots on the third, seventh, 14th and 28th day, medical official say.

McDaniel said pets tend to be the first line of defense and contact between people and wild animals. That, he said, makes it important to vaccinate companion animals.

“We don’t need anyone to panic, but we do see rabies in the area,” he said. “We do get some positive results, so it is a concern.”