Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Officials warn of rabid gray fox incidents in Sierra Vista area after multiple attacks
Summary
Sheriff Mark Danels and a USDA wildlife agent described several recent gray fox incidents in Sierra Vista and Pueblo Del Sol, including one attack that led to hospitalization; officials urged caution and reporting to law enforcement.
Cochise County officials warned listeners about recent gray fox incidents in and around Sierra Vista, including at least one attack that required ambulance transport to a hospital.
Sheriff Mark Danels described two incidents: one in Pueblo Del Sol where a resident was attacked and another where a fox reportedly jumped into a car and injured a person who required hospital transport. "The 1 the most recent 1 in Pueblo Del Sol, the neighbor was out. Fox attacked him. He was able to get inside. The other neighbor doing yard work, fox went for him. He jumped in his car, window down, and the fox jumped in there with him. So you can imagine what that melee looked like. He ended up having to be transported by ambulance to the hospital," Danels said.
He said a USDA wildlife agent captured and euthanized at least one fox that tested positive for rabies and that other animals reported in the area were being monitored. The sheriff relayed the agent's guidance for encounters: "If you do encounter 1 of these animals that it it starts to attack you, walk, don't run." He cautioned that people should report encounters immediately so law enforcement and wildlife agents can respond.
Officials said the area of concern includes Pueblo Del Sol and south Sierra Vista neighborhoods; they urged vigilance for hikers and residents and asked anyone with sightings or attacks to contact law enforcement.
