Jogger runs mile with rabid fox locked on her arm

[Desertdog]

Would you have reacted like this lady? 

Jogger runs mile with rabid fox locked on her arm 
 http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D948V99O3&show_article=1
         
 
 
  PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - With a fox locked onto her arm, an Arizona jogger ran a mile to her car, where she was able to dislodge the animal, throw it into the trunk and drive to a Prescott hospital. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said the fox, which later attacked an animal control officer, tested positive for rabies.
The unidentified Chino Valley resident told deputies she was on a trail Monday at the base of Granite Mountain when the fox attacked, biting her foot. The woman said she grabbed it by the neck when it went for her leg and it latched onto her arm.

Thinking the fox was rabid, she wanted to make sure it didn't get away so she ran to her car, where she was able to pry open its jaws, wrap it in a sweat shirt and toss it into the trunk.

The woman is receiving rabies vaccinations, as is the animal control officer.
 

[Standing Wolf]

Some people aren't smart enough to carry guns and pocket knives.

[freakazoid]

Dang. She is lucky that she kept it to have it tested, although wouldn't they be able to do a test on your bite wound or something? I can't imagine jogging a whole mile to your car with a fox latched onto your arm with its teeth. 

[Sindawe]

...although wouldn't they be able to do a test on your bite wound or something?

It has been been almost 20 years since I seriously studied virology, but IIRC Lyssavirus preferentially infects the cells of the nervous system and so can only be accurately diagnosed by an necropsy of the brain tissue from a suspected carrier.

[MicroBalrog]

Some people aren't smart enough to carry guns and pocket knives.

Or smart enough to carry backup plans, too.

[RocketMan]

Some people aren't smart enough to carry guns and pocket knives.

That's assuming she would have had time to react and use a firearm to protect herself from the fox.  We don't know exactly how the event transpired.

[Matthew Carberry]

Worst case, I'm jogging to my car carrying a dead fox.

[cfabe]

That's assuming she would have had time to react and use a firearm to protect herself from the fox.  We don't know exactly how the event transpired.

I think somewhere in the course of the mile run, she could have found time to draw the gun and kill the fox.

[RocketMan]

I think somewhere in the course of the mile run, she could have found time to draw the gun and kill the fox.

Ah, yes.  Fox already attached to arm.  Draw gun, shoot fox, hope the bullet does not do a thru-'n-thru into your own carcass.  I'm good with that.  Not.

[Manedwolf]

Good she kept it, but couldn't she have found a rock to brain it with, then carried it?

[RocketMan]

Good she kept it, but couldn't she have found a rock to brain it with, then carried it?

Good question.  There might have been some panic or shock involved.  But even with that, she did keep the fox.

[seeker_two]

Some people aren't smart enough to carry guns and pocket knives.

It has been been almost 20 years since I seriously studied virology, but IIRC Lyssavirus preferentially infects the cells of the nervous system and so can only be accurately diagnosed by an necropsy of the brain tissue from a suspected carrier.

Now I don't always carry a gun outdoors, but I have a knife at all times. Would it have worked if, in that situation, you just bring back the head of the fox?....

[freakazoid]

  I can't imagine what there faces would of been like.

[S. Williamson]

I find it funny that so many are wondering why she didn't have a gun with her.

Something tells me that anyone who chooses to run a full mile with live rabid vermin clinging to them is so badass, a gun's just extra weight.

"Hey, look-a jogger.  Easy target."
"Yeah.  You approach from the rear, I'll ask if she has any change."
"Ready?"

"Excuse me, miss?  Do you ha--OH HOLY HELL WHAT THE *(^$# GET OUT OF HERE LARRY!!!"

 

[MillCreek]

Actually, if I recall correctly, and consistent with what Sindawe said, I think all they need is a certain amount of brain or spinal cord tissue.  So bringing the head back should be sufficient.  With a small animal such as this, I think they need the brain, since there may not be a large enough volume of neuro tissue in the spinal cord for an adequate culture.  I was always told that when trying to collect a known or suspected rabid animal, to not destroy the head by shooting, crushing or decapitation and discarding the head since if they could not test the animal, they would have to err on the side of caution and administer the rabies series to the patient.

[Sawdust]

Ah, yes.  Fox already attached to arm.  Draw gun, shoot fox, hope the bullet does not do a thru-'n-thru into your own carcass.  I'm good with that.  Not.

I think that many of us could hit a fox hanging off of our arm without aiming at our own bodies.

Sawdust

[mtnbkr]

I think that many of us could hit a fox hanging off of our arm without aiming at our own bodies.

Sawdust

One that's flopping around, trying to get a better grip on you, flailing with it's limbs, etc?  Might not hit yourself, but good luck making a safe shot.

Chris

[Tallpine]

One that's flopping around, trying to get a better grip on you, flailing with it's limbs, etc?  Might not hit yourself, but good luck making a safe shot.

Chris

Not to mention that the fox might take your gun away from you and use it against you  :rolleyes:

[Sergeant Bob]

We can all sit here and talk about what she should have done but, she did what she did and it turned out well. She is one tough lady and I have to commend her for keeping a cool head under extreme duress.

[mtnbkr]

Not to mention that the fox might take your gun away from you and use it against you  :rolleyes:

Umm, sure.  Or maybe it's just prudent to subdue the small animal some other way rather than whip out our guns and risk sending a bullet into parts unknown.

Some folks are a bit quick to reach for the gun when other tools and methods might be a bit more appropriate.

Chris

[RocketMan]

We can all sit here and talk about what she should have done but, she did what she did and it turned out well. She is one tough lady and I have to commend her for keeping a cool head under extreme duress.

She certainly did.

[Matthew Carberry]

If she ran a mile with it, it probably wasn't thrashing that much.

Not sure why pinning it against something to make a contact shot seems so difficult.

Not saying that was the only option but it is hardly a difficult to accomplish choice.

[MechAg94]

Are you going to shoot it in the head? 

I would think that if you already have your hands on it, you would be better off using other means.  Bullets don't always travel in a straight line after hitting flesh.

[Matthew Carberry]

I would probably kneel on it and stab it to death.

But if I had to shoot it, I would fire through its upper chest, (that's about the size of a large cat's chest), again while pinning it down.  I don't see the bullet turning 90 degrees inside of 3 inches.

Then I would unlock or cut open its jaws and carry it back to my car and go to the hospital.

I'm not sure why this seems like such a tough task.

[El Tejon]

It's the heat that makes people crazy out there.  Well, heat and booze out there.

I think this should be a yearly event in God's Waiting Room--call it "The Fox Trot" (like the Turkey Trot during Thanksgiving or other events).  Runners run through wastelands with small mammals clamps to body parts.  Best time wins.