Authorities search for couple and possible rabid fox after attack in Arlington
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Version 0 of 1. Arlington County Animal Control officers are searching for a fox that attacked a couple after several similar encounters in the area. Authorities are also searching for the couple — a man and a woman — that the animal confronted around 11 a.m. Tuesday. A witness told authorities that the pair was walking in the 4400 block of North Old Glebe Road when the fox approached. Jennifer Toussaint, the county’s senior deputy animal control officer, said the woman, who was pushing a stroller, ran off when she spotted the animal. The man began kicking in the fox’s direction as it lunged towards him, she said. The fox charged at him a few times, then at some point took off. Toussaint said officers have not found the fox. She said officials are asking that people contact authorities if they spot a fox acting abnormally in the area. [Possible rabid fox attacks woman in Fairfax County, authorities said] Authorities also said the man may have been bitten by the fox, which could have rabies. Toussaint added that officials want the couple to contact animal control officers to ensure that they seek appropriate medical attention. “Any time that you have contact with wildlife, we always err on the side of caution,” she said. “We are asking that the man and the woman come forward and let us know if they had contact with the fox.” Toussaint said there have been similar fox attacks in the area. Two women were attacked by a potentially rabid fox on the Custis Trail at North Nelson Street. Both victims were being treated, she said. And in neighboring Fairfax County, a woman told authorities that a fox bit and scratched her in her McLean yard Tuesday. The woman, who lives in the 1400 block of Laburnum Street, told authorities that a red fox with a bloody nose and paws attacked her around 12:40 p.m., police said. The foxes in both attacks have not been found, officials said. Toussaint said authorities believe that both Tuesday attacks could be related. “These incidents happened very close to each other and about two hours (apart),” she said. “It could have been the same animal, but we’re not sure.” Authorities ask that anyone with information about the fox attacks contact Arlington County Animal Control at 703-931-9241. |