Fox attacks seven-month-old baby girl in her bouncer

A fox attacked a baby girl after sneaking into her home as she slept, leaving her requiring a tetanus shot.

The girl’s family say the animal entered their house in Plymouth, Devon, through the open back door then bit the baby.

Paramedics rushed to the property in West Park area after the terrifying incident yesterday afternoon.

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called on Tuesday at 1.47pm to an incident in the West Park area of Plymouth involving a suspected animal bite.

The family say this fox is the one that attacked their baby, who was left requiring a tetanus injection and antibiotics 

‘We attended with a rapid response vehicle. A female patient was treated at the scene for minor injuries.’

The baby’s auntie said she was later taken to hospital where she received a tetanus injection and a course of antibiotics.

It’s understood the animal had been spotted in the family’s garden in the days prior to the attack.

In 2013 a four-week-old baby boy was attacked by a fox in his home in London

It was reported that one of the baby’s fingers was severed but later re-attached by surgeons in a ‘delicate and difficult’ three-hour operation. 

The family spotted this fox in the back garden days before their youngster was attacked and sent to hospital 

The family spotted this fox in the back garden days before their youngster was attacked and sent to hospital 

The RSPCA says that fox attacks were “extremely unusual”.

Referring to the 2013 attack, a spokeswoman for the animal welfare organisation said: ‘It’s extremely unusual for foxes to attack young children or anyone.

‘It’s not typical fox behaviour at all. Foxes will come closer to a house if there are food sources.

‘Then they can become quite bold, but they usually do back off and run away when there’s people around.’

To minimise encounters with foxes, provide any food for wild birds in feeders that are less likely to spill, preventing foxes from scavenging.

Any windfall fruit should be cleared away and bins or composters should be securely sealed, as should any doors. 

Grass should be cut short or cleared entirely so that foxes do not utilised dense cover and animal repellents can also be used to deter them, if approved by law.  

It is recommended never to hand-feed foxes or approach them if seen. It is possible for people and pets to get mange from the animals, though the risk from foxes is very low, as direct contact is the most likely source of infection.

 



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