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02/26/2025
Holy Rabid Foxes!! Hikers beware down by sections 1 & 2 of AZT.
Cochise County Sheriff's Office is issuing a public awareness notice regarding rabid gray foxes in the south Sierra Vista / Hereford area.
Corrected 2000 hours.
Over the past several weeks:
A few weeks ago a call was received for upper Ramsey Canyon where a fox attempted to attack two people who were not injured, as one was able to get inside to safety while the second subject fended the animal off with a rake. Both subjects were inside their property boundaries when the attacks occurred.
Another call several days later was reported off of Kings Ranch Road where a man was outside in his yard when he was attacked by a fox resulting in injuries requiring medical attention.
The animals in these cases were located and euthanized for testing by a USDA agent, resulting in positive determinations for the rabies virus.
Last week, the Sheriff's Office was advised of a fox attacking a resident in the Pueblo del Sol neighborhood as he was outside his home. The man was able to get back inside safely before a neighbor, who was also outside, was attacked by the animal. The neighbor was able to get inside of his vehicle for safety, however, the windows were down and the fox jumped inside and continued the attack. The man was able to fight the fox off and call for assistance, resulting in him being transported by medics to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained.
The USDA agent responded immediately and was unable to locate the animal.
Later in the week, a woman reported that she was hiking in the Carr Canyon area when a fox came at her twice before she could get back to her vehicle resulting in bites of her hand and arm. The woman required medical attention for injuries sustained.
The USDA agent responded along with US Forest Service personnel and a camper advised them that another man had been in the camp earlier in the day and reported an encounter with a fox, which apparently did not result in injury.
The fox in this case was not located.
The Sheriff's Office is working closely with Cochise County Health and Social Services in collaboration and education to inform the public of rabies dangers as well as continued contact with the victims.
If you are exposed, go to an emergency room immediately, where a doctor will assess your condition and provide the appropriate treatment.
Please be aware of your surroundings, have a means of protection while outdoors (cane, walking stick, etc..), and call for help if you see a nocturnal animal that is out during the daytime hours.
Each person who was injured was required to undergo the rabies vaccination series. If you are exposed, and do not get treatment, and contract the virus, it is 100% fatal.
Report any unusual animal activity/sightings to your local law enforcement, SEACOM 520-803-3550, or 9-1-1. We will have someone respond as quickly as possible.
