A rabies alert has been issued for a Hayes neighborhood after two residents were bitten by a gray fox that turned out to be rabid. The incident occurred July 19 on Woodsville Road. The alert, which was issued by Gloucester’s Animal Control department, includes the Woodsville Road, Heath and Quail Hollow Drive areas.

According to deputy animal control officer Jacky Wilson, the victim witnessed a fox going after their chickens and, when they attempted to stop the fox, the victim was bitten, and the fox ran off. Wilson said a fox was spotted a few hours later on Heath Drive acting abnormally and walking up to people.

After an hour had passed, Wilson said another neighbor found a fox in a garage on Quail Hollow Drive and was also bitten. The animal was then put down by a neighbor. 

Animal Control picked up the fox and the health department sent it to be tested for rabies. “Unfortunately, the results came back positive for the deadly rabies virus,” Wilson said.&nbs...