Posted: April 17, 2009
Port St. Lucie animal control officers are searching for an aggressive gray fox that bit a woman Friday afternoon, and they are asking anyone who sees the animal to stay away from it and call 9-1-1. The animal is believed to be in an area south of Port St. Lucie Boulevard, east of the Florida Turnpike.
Officers responded to a call at 12:30 near the intersection of Airview Avenue and Hinchman Street where they met a woman with two bite wounds she said were caused by the fox. She said the animal fought with her golden retriever while trying to get into her house. She went outside to help her dog, and when she was walking back to her house the fox attacked her, biting her left calf and left thigh.
A neighbor said he saw the fox shortly afterward fighting with a tan and black German shepherd before the fox ran into the man’s garage. He said the fox was bleeding, apparently from the fight with the dogs. He used a stick to chase the fox from his house and was not injured in any way.
A short while later while officers were searching for the fox, a person driving by flagged down the officers and reported that a fox had just jumped onto the car's hood and began attacking the windshield wipers.
Officers have set five non-lethal traps in the neighborhood and are using a reverse 9-1-1 calling system to inform all residents within the area. In the meantime they are continuing their search.
It is unknown if the fox has rabies, so officers are urging anyone who sees a fox in the area to avoid it and call for assistance. The woman was sent to a hospital for treatment.
For more information call 871-5042.