Saturday, May 31, 2008 12:58 AM EDT
Rabies confirmed in one Hope Valley fox; other attacks reported
 A fox in Hope Valley has been found to have rabies. |
HOPE VALLEY — Environmental officials are asking local residents to be on the lookout for rabid foxes, following several attacks in the Sweet Valley Estates neighborhood over the last two days.
State Environmental Police Sgt. Frances Ethier said three people were bitten by red foxes in unprovoked attacks on Thursday and Friday night. Local police were going door-to-door in the neighborhood at press time to caution residents of the incidents.
On Thursday night, Ethier said a man using a weed whacker was bitten on the leg by a red fox around 5 p.m. He was later transported to The Westerly Hospital, where he received a rabies immunization, she said.
An environmental police officer who responded to the scene was also bitten by the animal, but was reportedly able to euthanize it. The carcass was taken to the Rhode Island Department of Health Laboratory, where it tested positive for rabies, Ethier said.
On Friday, DEM officers responded to a second unprovoked attack involving a fox and a jogger, while two dogs were also reported to have contact with the animal later in the day. The fox initially eluded police, but was eventually captured. It is expected to be tested today.
“It’s unusual to have these kinds of incidents,” Ethier said.
The attacks follow an incident on Wednesday afternoon, in which a fox charged towards two young girls on the front lawn of a Cedarwood Lane home.
According to Hopkinton Animal Control Officer Nancy Meissner, 9-year-old Liza Hall reportedly struck the approaching animal in the head with a croquet mallet. Though the animal retreated into the woods, it reappeared and charged towards the girls again.
Hall reportedly struck the animal in the head a second time — sending it back into the woods. The fox later appeared in the yard a third time, and attempted to pick the mallet up in its mouth and carry it away — but was unsuccessful.
Liza’s father Jeff Hall said his daughter recalled that the animal hissed at her as it approached, but was not foaming at the mouth. There was no indication that the animal was wounded, he said.
“Usually with anything rabid like that, it will exhibit it in different ways,” Meissner said, noting that animals with symptoms of rabidity typically die within 24 to 48 hours. “Some show more of an aggressive stance (than others).”
State Public Health Veterinarian Scott Marshall said residents should take measures to prevent contact with rabid animals — such as staying away from wildlife, vaccinating pets, securing garbage and not leaving pet food outside. Rabies have been found in every community throughout the state, except New Shoreham.
Last year, DEM received more than 2,500 rabies-related calls, while approximately 1,200 animal bites were reported to the Rhode Island Department of Health. About 1,200 animals — primarily skunks, bats and raccoons — have tested positive for rabies since the state’s first confirmed case in 1994.
Any sightings or encounters with an animal believe to be rabid should be reported to DEM’s Environmental Police Office at (401) 222-3070.
ckeegan@thewesterlysun.com
State Environmental Police Sgt. Frances Ethier said three people were bitten by red foxes in unprovoked attacks on Thursday and Friday night. Local police were going door-to-door in the neighborhood at press time to caution residents of the incidents.
On Thursday night, Ethier said a man using a weed whacker was bitten on the leg by a red fox around 5 p.m. He was later transported to The Westerly Hospital, where he received a rabies immunization, she said.
An environmental police officer who responded to the scene was also bitten by the animal, but was reportedly able to euthanize it. The carcass was taken to the Rhode Island Department of Health Laboratory, where it tested positive for rabies, Ethier said.
On Friday, DEM officers responded to a second unprovoked attack involving a fox and a jogger, while two dogs were also reported to have contact with the animal later in the day. The fox initially eluded police, but was eventually captured. It is expected to be tested today.
“It’s unusual to have these kinds of incidents,” Ethier said.
The attacks follow an incident on Wednesday afternoon, in which a fox charged towards two young girls on the front lawn of a Cedarwood Lane home.
According to Hopkinton Animal Control Officer Nancy Meissner, 9-year-old Liza Hall reportedly struck the approaching animal in the head with a croquet mallet. Though the animal retreated into the woods, it reappeared and charged towards the girls again.
Hall reportedly struck the animal in the head a second time — sending it back into the woods. The fox later appeared in the yard a third time, and attempted to pick the mallet up in its mouth and carry it away — but was unsuccessful.
Liza’s father Jeff Hall said his daughter recalled that the animal hissed at her as it approached, but was not foaming at the mouth. There was no indication that the animal was wounded, he said.
“Usually with anything rabid like that, it will exhibit it in different ways,” Meissner said, noting that animals with symptoms of rabidity typically die within 24 to 48 hours. “Some show more of an aggressive stance (than others).”
State Public Health Veterinarian Scott Marshall said residents should take measures to prevent contact with rabid animals — such as staying away from wildlife, vaccinating pets, securing garbage and not leaving pet food outside. Rabies have been found in every community throughout the state, except New Shoreham.
Last year, DEM received more than 2,500 rabies-related calls, while approximately 1,200 animal bites were reported to the Rhode Island Department of Health. About 1,200 animals — primarily skunks, bats and raccoons — have tested positive for rabies since the state’s first confirmed case in 1994.
Any sightings or encounters with an animal believe to be rabid should be reported to DEM’s Environmental Police Office at (401) 222-3070.
ckeegan@thewesterlysun.com
Frank wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:48 AM:
" I was in Riverbend Cemetery in Westerly this weekend visiting a grave when I saw a fox there. He was out in the open wandering through around the graves. It was about 7:30PM in the evening. "
Notified wrote on May 31, 2008 4:39 PM:
" I was in the neighborhood and saw police notifying residents. "
heard nothing wrote on May 31, 2008 9:51 AM:
" I live in this neighborhood and noone was going door to door to let us know what was going on,some people only found out about it in the paper. "
Lilly wrote on May 31, 2008 9:15 AM:
" These Rabid animals need to be captured and unfortunatly, put down... "
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