Officials are on the lookout for a possibly rabid fox that attacked three people at Saguaro National Park East on Tuesday.
The attack occurred Tuesday morning while three bicyclists near Cactus Forest Loop Drive in the Rincon Mountain District, east of Tucson, saw the fox on a trail and stopped to take a photo of it, the Arizona Game and Fish Department said.
The fox attacked the bike of one cyclist, bit into the shoe and scratched the leg of a second, and bit the hand of the third.
It is unusual for foxes to display aggressive behavior, especially during the day, prompting concerns that the animal may be rabid.
A woman passing by told the bicyclists she was also “nipped” by what is believed to be the same fox. Officials are unsure whether the woman was bitten but in cases of rabid animals, even casual contact can result in exposure.
The two injured bicyclists sought medical treatment, but officials are unsure if the woman has.
“That’s why we’re sounding the alarm,” said Arizona Game and Fish spokesman Mark Hart. “Once rabies symptoms onset, it’s almost always fatal.”
Arizona Game and Fish advises avoiding contact with and not approach wildlife that is behaving abnormally or appears to be ill; specifically, those that are unsteady moving, salivating heavily, extremely thirsty or highly aggressive. In addition, contact with dead wildlife should be avoided, and pets kept away from them as well.
There have been 12 confirmed cases of rabies among foxes, bats, skunks and a coyote in Pima, Pinal and Cochise counties in 2018.
Unusual or suspicious animal activity in Saguaro National Park should be reported to 1-800-637-9152
