A Gwinnett County woman saw a fox in the middle of the road Tuesday and thought it needed help. When she approached the animal, it lunged at her, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Melissa Moyers thought the fox had been hit by a car and wanted to get it veterinary help, she told Channel 2.
“I said, ‘Are you okay, little buddy?’ And then it attacked me,” Moyers said.
The fox bit Moyers’ leg and wouldn’t let go. Moyers was desperately trying to get the animal off of her when she realized she had an unconventional weapon nearby: a plastic 52-ounce reusable QuikTrip mug.
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Moyers grabbed the mug and began beating the fox in the middle of Swanson Drive in Lawrenceville. The fox eventually released her leg, but didn’t escape before animal control showed up to take it away.
The fox tested positive for rabies, Channel 2 reported. Now, Moyers is waiting to find out if she has the infection as well. Rabies is transmitted through bodily fluids, including saliva. The bite, which left a small mark on her leg, could have infected her.
The fox attack comes after Gwinnett County authorities issued a rabies warning to residents. A rabid cat attacked three people and multiple pets in early May. That cat and the fox that bit Moyers have both been euthanized.
Moyers took away a valuable lesson from the encounter: Be wary of animals you don’t know.
“Never approach any animal, wild or not, because you never know,” Moyers told Channel 2.
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