A New Hampshire man is recovering from multiple rabies shots after a startling encounter with a wild animal that he believes is a fox responsible for a series of attacks in Lebanon.
Zack Howard was leaving a parking lot Sunday when the creature charged at him, biting his foot and leg and puncturing his shoe. Surveillance footage captured the small, gray animal grabbing Howard’s bag before it attacked him. Howard managed to kick the animal off after it refused to release his foot.
"Dude, let go. I don’t want to kick you," Howard told the animal before resorting to kicking it off. He described the animal's appearance, noting its tail and orange underbelly, leading him to identify it as a fox.
Howard stated that the six rabies shots he received were more painful than the animal's bite. He has more shots scheduled in the coming weeks. The Lebanon Police Department issued a warning to residents, advising them to avoid approaching, capturing, or interacting with any wild animal exhibiting aggressive or unusual behavior. Police also emphasized the importance of washing any bites or scratches with soap and water and seeking immediate medical attention due to the potential risk of rabies.
New Hampshire Fish and Game officials have not confirmed the species of the animal but are investigating. Early suggestions pointed to a fox or a fisher cat. Lt. James Kneeland of Fish and Game mentioned that the animal's behavior is uncharacteristic for a healthy wild animal and could indicate illness. Officials have been actively trying to locate the creature to identify it and assess its condition. No further attacks have been reported since Howard's encounter.