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Fourth rabid animal case in Maine, police warn rabies appear to be 'widespread'

Police in Brunswick are warning of another incident involving a rabid animal. This is the fourth animal that has tested positive for the virus in the last three weeks.

BRUNSWICK (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Police in Brunswick are warning people to avoid wild animals after they say a man was attacked by a rabid fox while gardening last Friday.

They say this is the fourth animal that has tested positive for rabies in the last three weeks.

Brandon Radzilowski was at his sister’s Brunswick home on June 29, doing some yard work and building a back patio.

“I heard there were so many cases around the area,” Radzilowski said.

He had heard of the recent encounters with rabid animals and was on the lookout.

“I was actually inside the first time I saw it and I looked out the window and it was playing with one of the kids’ balls out back,” he explained.

He says a fox came into the backyard and chased the neighbor’s cat. Knowing the neighbor’s home has a cat door, he walked closer to scare the fox away and make sure it didn’t follow the cat into the house.

The shovel that a Brunswick man used to hit and kill a rabid fox.

The fox ran under the deck and the cat made it into the house unharmed. Radzilowski then saw the fox come out from under the deck. He had a shovel in his hand.

“As soon as it looked at me and pranced towards me I wasn’t taking that chance,” he said. “I just whacked it with the shovel....I guess it’s a good thing I actually killed it because it did have rabies”

RELATED ► Maine man, 95, beats rabid fox to death with wooden plank

Brunswick police are warning people to stay extra vigilant while outdoors, and offer the following recommendations:

  • Avoid wild animals, particularly if they are acting strangely.
  • If you encounter an animal that you suspect may have rabies, get inside and dial 9-1-1.
  • Do not feed your pets outside or leave them outside unsupervised.
  • Do not leave food supplies outside such as trash, bird feeders, etc.

Anyone with questions can contact the police department at 721-4301.

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