A whole community say are living like ‘prisoners’ and are refusing to go out while a ‘killer fox’ remains on the loose.
Dozens of families say they have locked all windows and doors and are not letting young children play outside due to fears the fox could strike again.
They have been on high alert since seven month old baby Raeya Wyatt was left with puncture marks on her feet and hands when a fox entered the family home through a front door that had been left off the latch.
Raeya was found screaming by her granddad Darren Boundy on Tuesday afternoon before he scared the fox away – but the family fear she could have been taken and killed.
A whole community say are living like ‘prisoners’ and are refusing to go out while a ‘killer fox’ remains on the loose. Above, residents of the community in Plymouth, Devon
They have been on high alert since seven month old baby Raeya Wyatt (pictured) was left with puncture marks on her feet and hands when a fox entered the family home
Shortly before the attack in Plymouth, Devon, it is understood a cat was also killed nearby by the same fox.
And neighbours living in the area say they are disgusted after being left with no help and support by the authorities.
They say the roads on their estate are normally bustling with children during half term – but due to a fear of a repeat attack the streets are totally deserted.
Paul Fahy, 34, a forklift truck driver, said: ‘We just want the fox gone. Every time we are going out we are worrying. I would not let any of the children out at the moment.
‘The whole neighbourhood is in shock about it and are afraid to come out of their doors. There is a couple of hundred houses on the estate so it is affecting a lot of people.
Raeya was found screaming by her granddad Darren Boundy on Tuesday afternoon before he scared the fox away. Pictured, her injuries
A seven-month-old baby girl was left with horrific injuries after being mauled by a fox that snuck into her house through the back and hoor and attacked her as she slept
Baby Raeya Wyatt with her grandfather Darren Boundry, who chased the fox out of the house
‘We should not have to live in fear. The kids should be out there playing. It is totally disgusting. The street is like a morgue and it is normally bustling with kids during half term.’
Nikki Hercus, 31, who has two kids Lacee, 11, and Alexis, seven, said she is also living in fear.
She said: ‘I am scared to leave have them outside at the moment. The kids have been screaming knowing this fox is out and about.
‘The fear is it is going to attack them. It has already attacked a baby and the vet said was hungry so who knows what it is going to do next.’
Raeya Wyatt was bitten on her foot and hand after the fox entered her home in Plymouth
Her grandfather Darren Boundry chased the fox out of the house and paramedics were called
Kerry Fahy, 33, who also has two kids aged seven and 11, said: ‘I will not let them out until this fox is found. If they are on their own it is terrifying to think what this fox will do.
‘It is half term and this street is normally full of kids playing outside – but as you can see at the moment it is like a ghost town.’
Deborah Wright, 52, said she had been told she could be prosecuted if she does anything to the fox.
But she said: ‘I think the fox should be killed. They told me there was nothing they could do and if I did anything to it I would be up on a charge.
The girl was later given a tetanus jab and antibiotics in hospital after the attack on Tuesday
Mr Boundry (pictured with Raeya) said the fox had killed a neighbour’s cat just the day before
‘The baby was screaming, it all happened in about 30 seconds. I just took her out then phoned the ambulance,’ Mr Boundry said
‘But it is ok for a child to get hurt? As a community we should not have to live like that.
‘They are not doing anything despite knowing a whole community is living in fear.’
Another mum Sue Leay, 27, said: ‘We are all locked in our homes with the windows shut. It is very scary.
‘I won’t let the dogs in the garden either. It is very scary. It is not fair on us. What would happen if we killed it? We would get prosecuted so why aren’t the authorities doing anything about this?
The family say this fox is the one that attacked their baby, who was left requiring a tetanus injection and antibiotics
‘What else can we do? They told us that if we harm it we will be in trouble but it is attacking children.
‘We are all scared scared to go out of our own homes. Everyone has got little ones around here and there is quite a few elderly as well.
‘They are locked in their homes. The whole community is affected by it.’
The family spotted this fox in the back garden days before their youngster was attacked and sent to hospital