The fox who attacked Cottonwood woman in Old Town Cottonwood was killed late Wednesday, June 16, and has tested positive for rabies.
Cottonwood police responded to woman’s home and found she suffered lacerations on her right hand.
The fox was found in the vicinity and, after acting aggressively, officers killed it. The animal’s remains were sent to the State Health Lab in Phoenix for rabies testing.
The attack was the third reported incident of the day, including an individual who fended off a fox with a clipboard and suffered no injuries, according to a press release from the Arizona Game & Fish Department. It is believed all three incidents involved the same fox.
“The behavior was consistent with a rabid animal,” Zen Mocarski, public information officer with the Arizona Game & Fish Department, stated in the release. “The number of rabies cases in 2009 broke existing records, so this is something we’ll need to watch.”
The victim has already begun the series of rabies shots.
Reports suggest the fox had been seen in the area for some time, but had become increasingly bold in recent days.
Mocarski said people should not approach any wild animals and residents should keep watch for any unusual behavior from wildlife, such as lethargy, having no fear of humans, being overly aggressive, or animals such as foxes, bobcats, and javelina being overly active during the heat of the day.
“It’s important potentially rabid animals be removed before they can spread this disease to other wildlife or humans,” he explained.
Those witnessing abnormal behavior should contact Game and Fish or local animal control.
