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Police: Bath Man, 88, Attacked By Fox Suspected Of Having Rabies

An 88-year-old Bath man was attacked on Friday by a fox suspected of having rabies.

Bath Deputy Police Chief Andrew Booth says the man was in his yard when the fox attacked, and when he tried to fight off the animal with a cane, he fell down and was bitten in the face.

“He grabbed the fox and held it till a passerby saw him needing help, and between the two of them, they detained the fox until police arrived and we were able to shoot and kill it and later bring it up to the lab to get tested,” he says. "Just due to the behavior, we're assuming that it's rabid, and [the attacked man] is being treated for rabies exposure."

According to state Center for Disease Control data, 16 wild animals in Bath tested positive for rabies last year — the highest number in the state. Booth says the city has met with state officials about the problem, but he says there’s not much that can be done other than encourage residents to take precautions.