A fox found in Woodcreek following an encounter with person was found to have rabies.
According to the city of Woodcreek, the fox approached a resident on Westwood Drive on the morning of Oct. 28. The resident was bitten by the fox that had been hiding under her vehicle.
“Please be aware of your surroundings and use extra caution while outside walking or playing golf,” the city said in a news release. “Do not feed or touch any wildlife.”
When officers arrived at the scene, the fox attempted to bite them and was killed. Further testing confirmed that the fox had rabies.
“If someone sees a fox acting strangely do not go up to it,” Jay Leivdal, Program Specialist for the Department of State Health Services, said. “…Odd behaviors are seeing a fox during the day time, it being overly friendly or overly aggressive, showing any neurological symptoms like it can’t walk or just not acting like a normal fox.”
Since the incident, some reports have been made of foxes acting strange in the area including on Champions Circle and near the Wimberley First Baptist Church. These incidents were reported after the other fox had been killed. According to Leivdal, rabies can pass from animal to animal.
“Foxes can transfer the rabies virus,” Leivdal said. “Any animal shedding the rabies virus can transfer it by bite or scratch… If you see any animals acting strangely or any wildlife acting strangely, call your local animal control or law enforcement department.”
Leivdal said encounters aren’t always aggressive.
“There are two forms of rabies, the furious and the passive,” Leivdal said. “The passive style is the animal will be so friendly it won’t even bit you. It will lick on you like a puppy. Then you have the aggressive one where it will chase you and try and bite you.”
If you think you or someone else may have come in physical contact with this animal, or if you see an animal acting strangely, call the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control at (512)393-7896 or the Dept. of State Health Services Zoonosis Control at (254)778-6744.
