Fox attacks 3 people in Virginia Beach

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Beach Animal Control Officers were called to the north end of the Virginia Beach oceanfront Saturday morning for reports of three people attacked by a fox.

On Saturday around 7:21 a.m., the Virginia Beach 911 center received a call for a citizen that had been attacked by a fox in the 200 block of 66th Street. When Animal Control officers arrived at the location, the fox attacked the back of their Animal Control patrol truck and then ran away, according to Animal Control spokesman Wayne Gilbert.

The officers patrolled the area for about an hour until another call was received for a second person who was attacked by a fox in the 200 block of 71st Street. Then another call was received for a third attack at 9:47 a.m. in the 7100 block of Atlantic Ave.

Officers finally caught the fox in the 200 block of Atlantic Ave., after it attacked the Animal Control truck for a second time.

Gilbert said that the fox was taken to the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center where it was euthanized. It will be tested for rabies by the Virginia Department of Health early next week.

One of the victims was scratched by the fox, another was bitten and the third may have been exposed to the fox's saliva, according to Gilbert. All three refused emergency medical services but were advised to seek medical attention.

Virginia Beach Animal Control is asking if anyone else or their companion animal may have been exposed to the fox to call the Virginia Beach Police's non-emergency number, 757-385-5000, to report the exposure.