North Adams police kill fox believed to have bitten resident

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By Gillian Jones, gjones@berkshireeagle.com

NORTH ADAMS — Henry Bourdon didn't even see the fox until it jumped out of the bushes.

Bourdon, 66, was walking his dog behind Greylock School about 6:30 p.m. Sunday when the animal lunged at him.
Before he knew it, the fox was "gnawing on" his left ankle.
"I was in a panic," said Bourdon, who tried kicking it with his other foot and fell down flat on his back before the fox scurried off.
In the end, he was bitten seven times.
The attack put the city on alert Sunday night and sparked an extensive search for the animal, which initially came up empty. But shortly after midnight, residents on Ashton Avenue called police and reported a fox in the area acting aggressively. 

"When the officer approached, it went after the cruiser," said North Adams Police Sgt. James Burdick. "It aggressively approached so it was run over."

The dead fox was taken to Greylock Animal Hospital and will be tested for rabies, according to police. The results are expected to be available by Wednesday.
Though it is believed the fox that was killed on Monday is the same responsible for the attack, police are advising residents in the city's west end to remain vigilant, secure their cats and dogs, and ensure pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations.
Bourdon and his wife, Deborah, had called North Adams Police earlier Sunday when they saw the fox crossing the street.
After the attack, police posted a pair of Facebook messages warning residents of the Greylock section of the city to stay inside and bring their pets in. 
North Adams Police Officers and Massachusetts Environmental Police, who had helped with Sunday's search, were stationed around Greylock Elementary School and along the travel routes to the school on Monday, but no fox sightings were reported, Burdick said.

"We weren't taking for granted that the one we had is the only one," he said. 
Sunday's attack is the second in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, a person was attacked by a fox in the same neighborhood. It was put down when it attacked an officer, Burdick said.
It was also a second attack for Bourdon, a mail carrier who has been bitten by a dog on his route.
On Monday, Bourdon was resting at home after his ordeal. 
His dog, Copley, a 7-year-old Border Collie and Jack Russell Terrier mix, was unharmed in the attack. Fortunately, Copley is up to date on his shots.
Bourdon was treated for his wounds at Berkshire Medical Center in North Adams, where he received a total of seven rabies shots in his arms and legs.
And he will have to follow up with additional shots: One in three days, another in seven days and the final in 14 days.
"Now, I'm up to date on all my shots," Bourdon said. 
Reach staff writer Adam Shanks at 413-496-6376 or @EagleAdamShanks on Twitter.
At a glance ... 
- The disease is transmitted through saliva, most commonly via a bite. 
- If contracted and untreated, rabies will attack the central nervous system and can lead to death within days of the first symptoms appearing.
- To prevent rabies, people are advised to vaccinate pets, not allow them to roam free, and avoid contact with wild animals.

- Keep trash secured so as to not attract animals.

- About 40,000 people annually receive preventative treatments for rabies after contact with a potentially rabid animal in the United States.
Signs of rabies:
- There are few behavioral signs that are telltale of rabies alone. Some animals may appear to be agitated, bite or snap at imaginary and real objects, and drool excessively. Or they may appear tame and seem to have no fear of humans. Other signs, such as the animal appearing excessively drunk or wobbly, circling, seeming partially paralyzed, acting disorientated, or self-mutilating can also be indicative of other diseases like distemper or lead poisoning. 
- If you see an animal you suspect is rabid, call the police.
Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; state Department of Agricultural Resources' Rabies Control Program; The Human Society of the United States.


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