The fox that bit Democratic Rep. Ami Bera (CA) and eight other people on Capitol Hill was euthanized Wednesday, according to D.C. Health.
“The fox responsible for 9 confirmed bites on Capitol Hill yesterday was captured and humanely euthanized so that rabies testing may be done. The fox was an adult female and her kits were found and captured this morning,” a statement from D.C. Health shared by NBC reporter Frank Thorp read.
SAD NEWS on the Capitol Hill fox beat, per DC Health: "The fox responsible for 9 confirmed bites on Capitol Hill yesterday was captured and humanely euthanized so that rabies testing may be done. The fox was an adult female and her kits were found and captured this morning."
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) April 6, 2022
D.C. Health went on to state that officials have not determined what to do with euthanized fox’s kits. “At this time, officials are working to determine next steps for the fox kits,” the statement said. “No other foxes were found on the Capitol Hill grounds, but it would not be uncommon to see more as there are many present throughout the District.”
On Tuesday, The Daily Wire reported that multiple sightings of a fox were reported to D.C. authorities, and Rep. Bera said the Capitol fox bit his leg before he was able to scare it away with his umbrella.
“I didn’t see it and all of a sudden I felt something lunge at the back of my leg,” Bera said on Tuesday afternoon. “I jumped and got my umbrella.”
Bera provided an update on Tuesday saying he was doing fine after the bite.
What does the fox say? Last night, I found out…
Joking aside, animal bites are extremely serious. In the case of an encounter, please speak with a physician immediately: https://t.co/J4tmdlZzQI.
Happy to report that I am healthy and back at work serving the people of #CA07. https://t.co/rNX85ItmrK
— Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) April 5, 2022
A reporter for CQ Now also spotted a fox near the Capitol and posted a picture to Twitter on Monday, writing, “Spotted outside the Capitol: a red fox. I was sitting at a gazebo outside the Russell Senate Office building when this little one came trotting up. Then galloped after a squirrel.”
The Capitol Police tweeted Tuesday, “We have received several reports of aggressive fox encounters on or near the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. For your safety, please do not approach any foxes. Animal Control Officers are working to trap and relocate any foxes they find.”
Animal Control was contacted and set out traps to “relocate any foxes they find.” People were also warned not to approach any foxes they may encounter.
Later in the day, the Capitol Police tweeted that the fox had been captured.
#BREAKING: Captured. pic.twitter.com/LJAn2ZjH9J
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 5, 2022
The Capitol fox’s capture didn’t turn out well for the aggressive animal as officials euthanized the mother fox to test it for rabies Wednesday morning, but Bera added some doubt when it was reported that he thinks authorities might have captured the wrong fox.
“[Bera] now says he’s not sure the fox they caught yesterday was the one that bit him! (He managed to snap this photo of it),” NBC News Senior Congressional Reporter Scott Wong tweeted. “Bera is all smiles today and says he’s feeling fine.”
🦊🦊🦊 @RepBera now says he’s not sure the fox they caught yesterday was the one that bit him! (He managed to snap this photo of it)
Bera is all smiles today and says he’s feeling fine https://t.co/G1ed4iMMQL pic.twitter.com/HlezKJ2oEv
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) April 6, 2022
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Source: Dailywire
