Fox Attacks, Bites Woman Multiple Times In Worcester: Reports

WORCESTER, MA — A woman was hospitalized on Friday after she was attacked and bitten multiple times by a potentially rabid fox, according to multiple reports.

The incident, which occurred around 7 a.m. on Esther Street, was captured on video obtained by multiple news outlets, including CBS Boston. The video shows the moment the fox runs up to the victim and lunges at her.

Authorities said the fox first bit the woman on the ankle, then bit her on both hands, causing injuries that broke the skin and drew blood, Boston 25 News reported.

The woman was treated at the hospital following the incident, reports said.

Dahnyel Swenson told CBS Boston that she witnessed the attack. She and her daughter rushed to help and trapped the fox under a recycling bucket until the first responders arrived.

"There's a hole in the bucket, so I had to get a rake because it's viscous, it's trying to come through the hole," Swenson told CBS Boston.

Bettyann Koskie, who lives across the street from the victim, also witnessed the attack, she told NBC Boston.

"It just charged. She didn't engage, she didn't even look at it," Koskie said. "According to my daughter, she just quietly walked away and started to go home, and it just darted after her."

Police said a similar incident was reported around 12:30 a.m. Friday in a wooded area near Gibbs Street in Worcester, reports said. The individual was not injured. Worcester Animal Control responded but did not find the fox.

The fox was euthanized, and its remains have been sent to a Webster Square Animal Clinic for rabies testing.