Published: Mar 20, 2013 06:54 PM
Modified: Mar 20, 2013 06:55 PM
CHAPEL HILL - Animal Control officers picked up a dead fox Wednesday that may be the rabid animal that bit two people in southern Chapel Hill on Tuesday.
County officials had sent out an alert Wednesday morning asking people to call 911 if they saw a fox in the southern Chapel Hill area.
A fox described as gray and slightly bigger than a house cat bit a man in the Dogwood Acres area around noon Tuesday and a woman later that day in the Southern Village area, Orange County Animal Services Director Bob Marotto said.
The body of the male fox found Wednesday will be sent to the state lab for testing.
It was killed in the Dogwood Acres neighborhood after it attacked a car and was hit by the tire, said Andi Morgan, spokeswoman for Animal Services.
“We can’t say for sure at this time that we have the fox actually associated with the attacks, although there is a strong likelihood that we do given the area and the behavior of the fox killed,” Morgan said.
Animal Control issued this advice pending the rabies test result:
• Do not leave children or pets outside or unsupervised. Pets should be taken out only on leash.
• If you see a fox between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., call Animal Services immediately at 919-942-7387, ext. 1. After hours, call 911. Make people in the area aware of the animal’s presence.
• Be sure your pets’ vaccines are up-to-date. An unvaccinated dog or cat that is suspected of having contact with a rabid animal must be quarantined for six months or killed.
For more information about dealing with wildlife in general or about rabies, go to
orangecountync.gov/animalservices.