(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) A fox roaming Capitol Hill bit at least two people, a congressman and a reporter, Just the News reported.
U.S. Capitol Police announced via Twitter that they received multiple reports of “aggressive fox encounters on or near the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.” One such encounter was with Democrat Rep. Ami Bera of California. The fox bit Bera in an unprovoked attack near the Russell Senate office building.
“I didn’t see it and all of a sudden I felt something lunge at the back of my leg,” Bera said. “I jumped and got my umbrella.”
While trying to use the umbrella to fend off the animal, Capitol police came to his aid and the fox ran.
“It was the most bizarre day in Congress,” Bera said.
UPDATE: Here’s an exclusive picture of Bera’s suit with the puncture marks from the fox
Bera told me the fox punctured his suit to his sock, but he did not see a wound on his skin.
(Photo courtesy of Bera’s office) pic.twitter.com/ln1DdQJ8K1
— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) April 5, 2022
Though the bite did not appear to pierce the skin, Bera decided to receive rabies shots “out of an abundance of caution.”
Politico reporter Ximena Bustillo posted on Twitter that she was also attacked by the fox.
That feel when you get bit by a fox leaving Capitol cause that’s of course something I expect in THE MIDDLE OF DC.
— Ximena (@Ximena_Bustillo) April 5, 2022
The police warned citizens to not “approach any foxes” and reported animal control was “working to trap and relocate any foxes they find.”
A few hours later, Capitol Police tweeted out a picture of the captured fox. It is unknown if this fox was the one who attacked.
#BREAKING: Captured. pic.twitter.com/LJAn2ZjH9J
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 5, 2022
D.C. Animal Control will be searching for fox dens and relocating the animals if they are found. There has been no confirmation that this animal is rabid.
