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WV woman bitten by fox get stitches, rabies shots

Journal photo by Jeff McCoy Barbara Sheppherd, of Martinsburg, poses Wednesday with her injuries at the location of the fox attack that occurred Sunday night.
Journal photo by Jeff McCoy
Barbara Sheppherd, of Martinsburg, poses Wednesday with her injuries at the location of the fox attack that occurred Sunday night.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Barbara Sheppherd said she was surprised when a fox within eight yards of her front door attacked her at her home near Woodbrier and Weaver lanes late Sunday night, and she is now being treated for bite wounds.

Around 11:45 p.m., Sheppherd took her son’s dog outside. In the dark, she felt a bite on her ankle and at first thought it was one of her cats playing.

“I felt a nip on my right ankle, and I thought it was a cat. I looked down, but it was not a cat. It was a fox,” Sheppherd said. “Somehow, the fox jumped up in the air and caught my left hand, and it bit me. If it hadn’t been for my son’s dog pulling the fox off of my hand, I might not have had a hand. The dog shook the fox, and I was able to get back.”

made her way back to the porch where she began bleeding profusely. Sheppherd said she knew she was in trouble and managed to still keep hold of the leash that tethered her son’s dog. Blood covered the porch area as she continued to try and get to safety.

The terrifying experience and the bleeding wound were enough for Sheppherd’s son to take her to the emergency room at Berkeley Medical Center where she was treated and given stitches in her hand, she said.

“Animal control was called from the ER,” Sheppherd said.

The Department of Natural Resources handles animal control problems in cases involving wildlife. Berkeley County Animal Control handles domestic animal problems in the county.

A DNR official told Sheppherd that the fox might have rabies.

“I’m undergoing the rabies shots,” Sheppherd said.

Her hand is badly swollen, and she is in some pain from the injury. She is also undergoing treatment for rabies since it is unknown if the fox is rabid. As of press time, the fox had not been captured.

“The fox on Monday morning was still alive because my son’s friend took his dogs out, and the fox ran across my front yard,” Sheppherd said.

Sheppherd said she has tried to get the word out about the fox to warn others.

“I have alerted the neighbors because there are kids and animals,” Sheppherd said.

Sheppherd said the experience has made her very cautious about being outside, especially after dark. Sheppherd credits her son’s dog with saving her from more injuries.

“Probably without him, I would have lost a hand,” Sheppherd said.

Those with more information can contact DNR at 304-822-3551.

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