Maine man, 88, attacked by rabid fox for second time in four months

A man is recovering after his second encounter with a rabid fox in four months.Norman Kenney, 88, was bitten in the face by the fox Friday. The attack followed reports of a fox approaching some dogs in the southern part of the city earlier that day.Kenney tried to fend off the fox with his cane, but it bit him in the face. He then grabbed the fox and held it until a passerby stopped to help. They called 911 and officers who responded shot and killed the fox.Kenney was treated for rabies exposure at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick and released that evening.Tests on the fox at the state lab Monday confirmed it had rabies. Last September, Kenney had another encounter with a rabid fox when it attacked him. He stepped on its neck and killed it. Friday's attack was the first rabies case in Bath this year. There were 16 positive rabies test results in 2019.Officials said not all of the cases involved animal attacks, but included instances of pets or people possibly being exposed to the disease in encounters with different types of wildlife, such as foxes, raccoons, skunks and bats.If the fox tests positive for rabies, it would be the first case in Bath this year.Officials are asking residents to use caution if they encounter wildlife.

A man is recovering after his second encounter with a rabid fox in four months.

Norman Kenney, 88, was bitten in the face by the fox Friday. The attack followed reports of a fox approaching some dogs in the southern part of the city earlier that day.


Kenney tried to fend off the fox with his cane, but it bit him in the face. He then grabbed the fox and held it until a passerby stopped to help. They called 911 and officers who responded shot and killed the fox.

Kenney was treated for rabies exposure at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick and released that evening.

Tests on the fox at the state lab Monday confirmed it had rabies.

Last September, Kenney had another encounter with a rabid fox when it attacked him. He stepped on its neck and killed it.

Friday's attack was the first rabies case in Bath this year. There were 16 positive rabies test results in 2019.

Officials said not all of the cases involved animal attacks, but included instances of pets or people possibly being exposed to the disease in encounters with different types of wildlife, such as foxes, raccoons, skunks and bats.

If the fox tests positive for rabies, it would be the first case in Bath this year.

Officials are asking residents to use caution if they encounter wildlife.