April 23, 2012, 7:00 p.m.: The Day is reporting that a fox that attacked several people before being shot and killed by Stonington Police has tested positive for rabies.
Rabies can be transferred to humans if an infected animal bites a human. The two children that were bitten by the fox will receive treatment. According to the state Department of Public Health the, "disease can be prevented by thorough wound cleaning and timely medical treatment that includes administration of one dose of immune globulin (antibodies) and 4 doses of vaccine over 2 weeks."
April 21, 2012, 5:47 p.m.: A officer shot and killed a fox Saturday morning after it had attacked at least two children in Pawcatuck.
Stonington Lt. Keith Beebe said residents reported two separate incidents of a fox attacking children on Friday night. This morning the department received calls of a fox acting aggressively near Shea Drive in Pawcatuck. Beebe said officers responded to the area and after finding the fox that continued trying to attack things and people in its vicinity an officer shot and killed the fox.
Beebe said the fox attacked a young boy Friday evening and then attacked a 14-year-old girl around 10 p.m. Both of the children were treated for minor injuries.
Fox attacks on humans are rare and according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, "...healthy foxes pose virtually no danger to humans..."
The fox will be tested for rabies.
