THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605160395
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARIE JOYCE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
The screams of her 3-year-old son brought Sharon Schoolcraft to the kitchen window. Nathanael seemed to be tipping out of his tricycle. At first, she thought that's why he was yelling.
Then she saw something gray leap up at him.
On Monday, Schoolcraft, her son and a neighbor became the latest victims of a rabies outbreak in Virginia Beach's wild animal population when they were attacked by a fox in their Parkside Green neighborhood. Parkside Green is off Holland Road, east of Landstown Road.
The female fox was the seventh rabid animal found this year in the city, said health department officials, who Wednesday announced results of tests on the fox.
All three victims were treated immediately at local hospitals with a vaccine to prevent them from developing the fatal disease, said health officials. Quick treatment is crucial to prevent rabies.
Schoolcraft said that Nathanael was in the back yard when the fox, which was slightly bigger than a large cat, apparently slipped underneath the wooden fence and leaped on him, biting his legs and back.
His mother rushed to his rescue, swatting the fox on the head several times. The fox turned its head, snarled, then resumed biting her son.
Schoolcraft hit the fox's head several more times with one hand, dragging her son out of the way with the other. She managed to lift Nathanael into her arms.
The fox leapt at her, sinking its teeth deep into her knee and hanging there. ``It was like a Gila monster,'' she said, referring to a poisonous lizard. ``It would not let go of my knee.''
She started to run toward the house, Nathanael in her arms. But she fell. Nathanael fell on top of her, and the fox leaped on him and started biting again.
She dashed into the house, fox at her heels, slamming the door on it.
The fox stood outside the door, staring through the glass at them, she said. ``It was really strange. He was looking for us.'' She called 911.
Several hours later, subdivision resident Lance Reeves noticed the animal control officers when he went to get his mail. They told him about the fox.
As Reeves headed back up his driveway, he saw the animal sitting near his door. The animal was leaning to the side and retching.
Reeves said he yelled for a neighbor and the animal control people, who couldn't see the fox from where they were standing. ``It made a beeline for me,'' he said.
He didn't have time to get into his car, so he jumped onto the hood, then the roof. To his shock, the fox followed him.
He got off the car and ran. The fox chased him, following him up onto another car and a pickup.
``I had on running shoes, fortunately,'' he said. He fell twice.
Finally, he said, he turned and grabbed the fox by the neck. The animal control officers seized the animal.
Only then did Reeves realize he had bite wounds on both shins.
Foxes normally are extremely shy and solitary animals, said Valerie Reich, environmental health supervisor with the Virginia Beach Health Department. If one approaches a human, or even allows a human to get near, it's almost certainly sick, she said.
People should stay away from all wild animals, said Reich. Some animals with rabies behave very aggressively, like the fox. Others appear lethargic.
Several other cases this year have involved raccoons that attacked people or pets. Anyone who has been attacked by an animal should seek medical help immediately. ILLUSTRATION: AVOIDING RABIES
Make sure your dogs and cats are up to date on their
vaccinations. Keep them confined to your home or yard.
Do not approach wild and stray animals.
Don't try to trap and move wild animals on your property. Call
animal control officers.
Report all animal bites or contact between pets and wild animals
to your local animal control or health department.
Warn children to report any bites or scratches.
If you think you may have been exposed to rabies, ask your
doctor whether you need treatment. Injections to prevent rabies are
no longer given in the stomach.
KEYWORDS: FOX RABIES by CNB