Foxes are one of the most majestic animals in the northern hemisphere, and are rarely sighted in urban areas.
Most of the time, they are quite harmless, preferring to saunter away as quickly possible while keeping a low profile, although there have been many reports of hikers having their lunches sorted through or eaten by hungry foxes.
Foxes love human food, and they love adventure, but now they apparently have a taste for biting humans as well, in one part of the country.
“That Feel You Get When You Get Bit By a Fox Leaving the Capitol”
It might sound like something out of a sci-fi horror flick, but foxes really have been biting people near Our Nation’s Capitol in Washington, D.C.
“That feel when you get bit by a fox leaving Capitol cause that’s of course something I expect in THE MIDDLE OF DC,” wrote one Twitter user named @Ximena after becoming one of the fox’s’ victims.
According to U.S. Capitol Police, a fox may be responsible for “roughly six bites and/or nips,” a spokesperson said via email to NPR.
Among the additional victims were “at least one journalist and lawmaker.”
Fox Caught Roaming, Biting People Near Politicians’ Office in D.C.
The fox was spotted around the Dirksen Senate Office Building and the Russell Senate Office Building, as well as on the House side of the U.S. Capitol, a police spokesperson told NPR.
Authorities said their recent aggressive behavior is “unusual.”
“There are possibly several fox dens on Capitol Grounds,” the police said.
“Please do not approach any fox you see.”
Eventually, a fox was captured, at 3:36 p.m. on April 5, putting an end to the unusual situation.
#BREAKING: Captured. pic.twitter.com/LJAn2ZjH9J
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 5, 2022
Those attacked were reported as U.S. Congressman Ami Bera and Bustillo, a reporter for Politico.
Spotted outside the Capitol: a red fox. I was sitting at a gazebo outside the Russell Senate Office building when this little one came trotting up. Then galloped after a squirrel pic.twitter.com/xrX4sMi9XU
— Michael Macagnone (@mikemacagnone) April 4, 2022
That feel when you get bit by a fox leaving Capitol cause that’s of course something I expect in THE MIDDLE OF DC.
— Ximena (@Ximena_Bustillo) April 5, 2022
A report from the Huffington Post said the fox, identified as a female, may be killed for rabies testing, as the tests cannot be performed on a live animal.
