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2 people report fox attacks

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RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Two people have been attacked by foxes within a mile and a half of each other.  It happened Thursday in neighborhoods behind Dorn VA Medical Center off Garners Ferry Road.

It's not confirmed that the fox has rabies, but DHEC and animal control are assuming that it's sick and dangerous.

"He was crazy-eye looking." said Carroll Senn, who was bitten by the fox. "He had some blood around his mouth and he just, he was attacking me."

Senn was having some work done on his garage door on Byron Road in Columbia Thursday afternoon when he spotted a fox in the driveway.

"I walked back out here to see where it went as soon as he saw me, he came around the edge of this truck, he charged," said Senn.

He charged to Senn's right leg.

"He was clamped on," said Senn. "In fact, he didn't let go until my pants tore and he turned loose then."

Senn is one of two people who was attacked by a fox Thursday. DHEC says more than likely, the fox has rabies and there's probably more than one out there.

"If you see a wild animal acting tame or a tame animal acting wild stay away from it," said DHEC spokesperson Adam Myrick.  "Leave it alone because odds are it's very sick. Odds are it has rabies."

Foxes are nocturnal. For them to be out during the day and to be approaching humans are two big warning signs. Once Senn was bitten he alerted the schools in the area and went to the hospital.

"if you wait around until the signs or symptoms show themselves it's too late," said Myrick. "Rabies is essentially 100% fatal."

It isn't a heavily wooded area but Senn's neighbors see foxes, raccoons, possums and even a coyote or two from time to time.

"Last time I saw one he was in the front yard," said Kathy White, who lives in the area.

"I am going to take a golf club with me whenever I go out," said neighbor Dot Rabon.

DHEC says if you see a wild animal, stay away. And if you are attacked or come into contact with its saliva, go get checked out.

Senn got seven painful shots Friday and has four more to go over the next few weeks.

The fox has not been caught but animal control has set traps for it.   If it is rabid, DHEC says it will be dead very soon.  But officials say there's no telling who or what it will come into contact with before it dies.

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