A leisurely afternoon walk with his dog turned into a frightening wildlife attack for one local man.
He was walking his dog on Jud Tench Road in Demorest Monday afternoon when a large red fox came out into the road and lunged at him. It tried to attack his leg, he told authorities. “The victim was able to kick it away from him, but sustained minor injuries,” says Habersham County Animal Care and Control (HCACC) Director Madi Nix.
It’s not clear if the fox scratched or bit the man, but it did break his skin. The man managed to keep the fox away from his dog.
A neighbor outside who witnessed the attack shot the fox after it tried to attack the witness’ pressure washer, says Nix. The injured fox then ran into the nearby woods.
The victim immediately went and received post-exposure shots for the rabies virus at the Habersham Medical Center Emergency Room. The county health department contacted HCACC. Animal control officers located the fox and performed field euthanasia. They sent the body to the state health department for testing.
Those results came back Wednesday and confirmed the fox was infected with rabies.
Report strange acting wildlife. Vaccinate pets.
The attack is reminiscent of one that occurred in Cornelia in June 2016. In that incident, a rabid fox attacked a man who was working in his front yard. Ed Strain sustained over fifty puncture wounds and had to undergo a grueling series of rabies shots after that attack.
HCACC asks Habersham County residents who see wildlife acting strangely to call them at (706) 839-0195. In case of an emergency, call 911.
Nix urges pet owners to keep their pets’ rabies vaccinations up to date to protect their pets and to comply with local ordinances and state law.
A rabies clinic will be held at the Old Alto City Hall in Alto, Georgia on May 18th from 10am-12pm. Rabies vaccines will be administered by Cornerstone Animal Hospital and will cost $10 for a one year vaccine and $20 for a three year vaccine. Three year vaccines will require proof of a current rabies vaccine.
