Fox Attack Hospitalized Bergen County Woman, Say Police

MONTVALE, NJ — After a woman was bitten by a fox in Montvale on Tuesday, officials released new details and and warned residents to protect their pets and themselves against the fatal virus rabies. READ MORE: Fox Bites North Jersey Resident, Police Say

Police said that they responded on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. to Bryan Drive, where a 61-year-old woman said she had been bitten by a small animal "with red and brown fur and had a furry tail."

The woman had a wound on her right leg by her calf area, police said. The animal had run off behind the house.

Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps brought the woman to Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood for treatment, police said.

Tyco Animal Control searched for the animal, but had not found it as of Thursday, police said.

'I Heard My Mom Screaming'

The victim's daughter told CBS News on Thursday that she had fended off the animal with a shovel.

Gianna Cortazzo said, "I heard my mom scream, and I looked and I saw a fox had attached to her leg."

Animal rescuer Nancy Warner told CBS that a fox would only come up and bite someone if it had the fatal disease rabies, which can spread from animals to humans. Cortazzo's mom is getting a series of shots to make sure she doesn't contract the disease, her daughter said in the CBS report.

Precautions

Montvale said Tuesday that people should "Be aware of foxes and keep your distance. The fox was seen in the northeastern corner of the town but it may travel."

On Thursday, they added these suggestions:

• Avoid contact with unknown, stray, or wild animals. Ensure that pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations. Supervise children and pets when outdoors.
• Report any animals behaving unusually — "such as acting aggressive, disoriented, or unafraid of people" — to animal control or police.
• If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, seek medical attention immediately and report the incident to your local health department.

Five Coyote Attacks

Bergen County residents had already been on alert because of five reported coyote attacks on people and dogs in fall. in two cases, police captured coyotes with rabies, a fatal virus, after the attacks.

People who are scratched or bitten by an aggressive animal should always get treated immediately, as rabies is almost always fatal.

In October, a coyote killed a woman's small dog, an 11-year-old shih tzu named Happy, in their yard in Ho-Ho-Kus. That same week, two coyote attacks were reported in the nearby towns of Saddle River and Woodcliff Lake.

During the last week in September, coyotes attacked two Saddle River residents walking their dogs. Two coyotes were captured after those attacks, one of which was rabid. READ MORE: Coyote Tests Positive For Rabies After Attacking 2 In Bergen County: Officials

Red And Gray

According to the state of New Jersey, there are two species of foxes found in New Jersey: the red and gray fox. Foxes tend to attack small livestock and cats, but rarely humans, the state says.

The CBS report from Thursday said that Cortazzo had seen a red and white animal with a bushy tail.

"They frequently inhabit yards, parks, and golf courses, especially areas that adjoin suitable, undeveloped habitat," the state says. "Healthy foxes pose virtually no danger to humans. Foxes can grow accustomed to human activity but are seldom aggressive toward people."

If they do attack people, it's a sign something may be wrong. Those who see a sick or aggressive fox, or even one acting "unusually friendly," should contact local police, or state officials.

"Foxes can carry the organisms responsible for several contagious diseases such as mange, distemper and rabies," the state says. "Animals that appear sick or that are acting abnormally should be avoided ... Local animal control officers, police, or Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Control Unit or the DEP Hotline (877-WARN-DEP). should be contacted if assistance is needed with a diseased animal." More information is here.

READ MORE: New Coyote Advisory Issued In Bergen County