Wild fox attacks pair of Belchertown residents

BELCHERTOWN - A fox that bit two local residents Friday morning was shot and killed, police said.

At 9:15 a.m., police received a call from Aldrich Street resident Julie Ross who said she and her husband had just been attacked by a rabid fox in front of the couple's two children, according to published reports.

Moments later, police were called again by members of the Eyler family, who live two houses down from the Rosses and reported that a fox had confronted and bitten a woman on the hand.

As he headed to the scene, officer Steven W. Henn Jr. saw the fox running across the street and shot it dead.

Although a possibly rabid animal would usually be turned over to the local animal control officer, police said the gunshot wound was to the head and rendered to fox unable to be tested.

Those bitten by the fox were encouraged to get treatment for rabies at a local hospital, police said.

- OWEN BOSS