What to do if you met a fox

Where can you find a fox

An encounter with a wild animal can occur both in the forest and in the vicinity of the city.

If a fox lives near popular hiking trails and campsites and often receives gifts from people, it may go out to vacationers in the hope of a treat.

In the city, wild animals appear both in search of food and to look for a place for breeding. For example, at the beginning of 2023, the fox family got a job under a veranda in a kindergarten in the southwest of Moscow.

Also in the city can go frenzied animals. They lose their sense of self-preservation and can appear in crowded places without fear, attack pets and approach humans.

What to do if you meet a fox

First of all, don't panic. Most foxes are harmless to humans and will not attack without a good reason.

If the animal does not show signs of aggression and is kept at a distance, do the following:

• Don't get close to the fox. mad foxes may behave calmly, but if you try to approach, they will attack.
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• Do not make sudden movements, do not scream or frighten the animal, otherwise it may feel threatened and attack.
• Avoid eye contact.
• Quietly move away, backing away from the fox.
• If you met the beast in the city, report it to the administration or call 112.

Do not try to feed or pet the animal. Even if it doesn't end in anything bad for you personally, the positive experience will make the fox continue to reach out to people, and this can be dangerous.

If the animal runs straight at you without fear, it may be infected with rabies. Try to find cover, such as in a car or even in a tree.

If this is not possible, try to keep the predator at a distance. For example, pick up a stick or take off your backpack. In the event of an attack, the beast will cling to a makeshift shield, and not to your arm or leg.

What to do if a fox has bitten

If the fox is still bitten you, accept measures to avoid getting rabies:

1. Treat the wound. Wash the bite with soap and water for 15 minutes. Then treat the edges with a 5% tincture of iodine.
2. Contact a healthcare facility for vaccinations. Modern course for emergency rabies prevention consists of of the six doses of the vaccine, which are administered intramuscularly - in the upper arm.
3. Don't hesitate to see a doctor. Rabies vaccine effective in 96-98% of cases, but only if treatment is started no later than the 14th day from the moment of the bite.

If a fox has bitten your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. Rabies can not only kill a pet, but also make it dangerous to others during the period of illness.