Shocking surveillance footage has emerged of a woman being viciously attacked by a fox in her own yard.
The video was initially shared on Facebook by the unnamed woman’s husband, Paul Russo, on August 21.
“My wife was attacked by a rabid fox this past July,” he wrote.
“Our friend edited the security camera footage and made this educational video for us to post to alert everyone that this can happen to anyone.”
The footage, which is timestamped to the afternoon of July 25, shows the woman exiting her front door in Ithaca, New York, while talking on her cell phone.
While she stands on her front walk, a fox comes up behind her and lunges at her leg.
The woman attempts to kick and throw the animal away until a neighbor, hearing her screams, runs up with a large stick. The fox slinks away as the woman limps back into her home.
The fox returned to the couple’s back yard once more before attempting to attack another person nearby. This time, the fox was killed and brought to a Cornell University lab, where it tested positive for rabies.
The edited video also includes photos of the woman’s injuries, which include extensive bite marks and scratches to her hands and calves.
“It was a beautiful animal and I didn’t want to hurt it,” the woman is quoted in the video saying.
“Unfortunately, I had no choice by to fight back, because I couldn’t get away. I thank God my neighbor showed up.”
The surveillance footage was also shared on Twitter by meteorologist Ed Russo, who said he is the woman’s cousin.
“She’s OK,” Russo assured his followers.
“But geez this video is crazy!”
Russo told a commenter that his cousin “got treated immediately.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is a deadly but preventable viral illness that is most often spread through animal bites. The standard course of treatment is one dose of immune globulin and four doses of the rabies vaccine over 14 days.
The edited video shared on Facebook warns viewers about the dangers of approaching wild animals.
“If one charges you like in this incident, assume it’s rabid and avoid contact at all costs,” the final title card says.
