Fox killed by police thought to have rabies

On Friday afternoon, State College police killed a fox that was reported to have been chasing kids on Merry Hill Road in Lemont. The body was collected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Earlier that day, the fox had reportedly attacked a lawnmower at 1708 East Branch Road. Lt. Bradley Smail said that based on the behavior exhibited, it’s believed that the animal had rabies.

“I would be surprised if it wasn’t rabies,” Smail said.

Last Tuesday, a house cat was attacked along the 1800 block of East Branch Road by what was thought to be a coyote. The owner shot and killed the animal, which was later properly identified as a gray fox and confirmed to have rabies.

Smail said that the fox destroyed on Friday could be related.

“The game commission believes it came from the same den,” Smail said.

This story was originally published June 4, 2017 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Fox killed by police thought to have rabies."