In Ocean County, Several Children were Attacked by a Fox
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August 29, 2022
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September 1, 2022In Ocean County, Several Children were Attacked by a Fox
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Lakewood, NJ
According to authorities, six kids were attacked by a fox on Tuesday in different occurrences in Lakewood, with five of them getting bitten.
It was unclear if there was only one fox or if there were more that came into contact with the kids. Within a mile of John Street Park, where two kids were bitten, all of the instances occurred.According to Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith, the first incident happened at 10 a.m. on Tuesday but wasn't reported until 5:40 p.m. Officer Kyle Carrington was informed by a woman that her child had been bitten that morning at the playground on John Street. The young man was treated and discharged after being transferred to a nearby hospital, according to Staffordsmith.
A second child was bitten around 6:40 p.m. while enjoying the playground at John Street. That bite wasn't reported until around 9:40 p.m., according to Staffordsmith. The 8-year-old, who lives on Center Street, was the subject of a complaint that was taken by Officer Felix Rivera.Officer Kevin Nickerson received a report of a fox jumping on a child at a Rose Park Crescent residence at 7:15 p.m. The youngster wasn't hurt, according to Staffordsmith. The fox was not located by the authorities.
A family on Regal Court reported that three kids had been bitten by a fox while playing in their yard at around 7:30 p.m. According to Staffordsmith, Officer Sean Ward advised them to get medical help and got in touch with the Ocean County Health Department. Uncertainty existed around whether the kids were getting rabies prevention therapy.According to Brian Lippai, a department spokesman, six confirmed cases of rabies have been reported to the Ocean County Health Department in 2022. He claimed that although the health department does keep track of cases where persons are treated for potential rabies exposure, the tracking is reliant on hospitals and/or medical professionals disclosing the treatments.
Foxes, particularly red foxes, frequently coexist in close proximity to human homes and communities, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection website.According to the DEP, "they typically occupy yards, parks, and golf courses, particularly locations that adjoin adequate, unspoiled habitat." "Foxes in good health pose almost no threat to people. Foxes are rarely violent toward people although they can become habituated to human activity. Expanding housing development raises the likelihood of encounters between people and foxes and other wildlife, especially in formerly rural areas."
According to the DEP, foxes can spread diseases like rabies, mange, and distemper. "Avoid any animals that seem ill or are acting strangely. Unprovoked aggression, restricted movement, paralysis or a lack of coordination, unusually friendly behavior, and confusion are all signs that an animal may have rabies or another neurological condition."The Health Department of Ocean County receives reports of animal bites. The government additionally issues rabies notifications; one was sent out in June after a cat in Manchester tested positive for the disease.
As they work to capture a possible rabid fox that was seen "behaving erratically" and having "encounters" with park visitors, state authorities have shut down Double Trouble State Park in Berkeley Township. If somebody was bitten by the fox, it has not been confirmed by authorities. The location of the bitings recorded in Lakewood on Tuesday is more than 15 miles away from Double Trouble State Park. According to officials, anyone who sees an animal acting strangely should contact their local police, animal control, or the DEP Hotline (877-WARN-DEP).
