A fox or foxes are still at large after two reports of bites in the Springfield area on Monday, Aug. 8, Fairfax County Police said.
Animal Protection Officers of FCPD first responded to an incident of an 81-year-old woman being bitten while in her front yard in the 8600 block of Kenilworth Drive around 10:33 a.m. The woman went to a hospital for medical attention.
Police said the second incident happened around 1:57 p.m. later that day. An 84-year-old man was mowing his lawn in the 5600 block of Ventnor Lane when police reported he “was confronted and bitten by a fox.” The man also went to the hospital for treatment.
Animal Protection Officers have set traps for the animal or animals involved with the confrontations with humans, but have yet to bring anything in. It’s still unknown, then, whether the foxes involved have the rabies virus.
Though the aggressive behavior observed in the foxes is one of the signs of rabies, FCPD said.
The Animal Protection Police are asking residents to keep their dogs on leashes when walking in public areas.
“If bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention right away,” the statement said.
Animal bites, sick and injured animals should be reported immediately to the Animal Protection Police at at 703-691-2131, TTY 703-877-3715.
More information is available online at fcpdnews.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-rabies-virus/