SCRANTON, Pa. — People living in the Green Ridge section of Scranton say they've been on alert after hearing a rabid gray fox attacked and bit a woman living on Fairfield Street.
The Game Commission says that woman called 911 on Monday, saying she was trying to chase that fox from her front yard when the fox ran at her and bit her on her foot, breaking the skin.
A Game Commission officer responded; Scranton police were already there and had taken the fox down.
After taking the fox for testing at the state health department, the Game Commission says it tested positive for rabies and notified the woman.
We spoke to people who live on Fairfield Street.
"Apparently there was a fox that might have had rabies and one of the neighbors got attacked by it but the police came and took of it,” said Judy Coyle.
Now the State Health Department is warning people to be on the lookout as it says several feral cats exposed to that fox will likely come down with rabies in the near future.
Marie Jordan believes she's seen a second fox infected with rabies.
"We know there's another fox out that's there out and traveling around the neighborhood. But we're mostly concerned about the people in the area, innocent kids walking down from Marywood, you know there's a lot of children in the area,” said Jordan.
The game commission says it hasn't heard about any other rabid animals but wants people to call the game commission and health department if they see any animal exhibiting either two types of behaviors consistent with rabies.
"Either it's overly aggressive as was the case that appeared with this animal or it may appear overly friendly or tame which may prompted people to want to pick up or pet it,” said Officer William Williams with the Game Commission.