Horror injuries of seven-month-old baby attacked by fox that crept into family home and BIT her in bouncer
Plymouth family say animal had been lurking around their garden before it snuck into their home and attacked tot
A BABY girl was bitten by a fox after it crept into her house yesterday — leaving her with horror cuts to her arms and legs.
Little Raeya Boundy had to be treated by paramedics after the urban fox managed to get into her family's Plymouth home.
Photos show how the seven-month-old was left with several puncture wounds on her hands, arms and feet.
Just a day earlier the fox had allegedly killed a neighbour’s pet cat and had been seen prowling in the garden of their council house in Honicknowle, on the outskirts of Plymouth, Devon.
The tot’s mum Leanne, 27, was at her sister’s while granddad Darren was looking after her with a friend.
He told today how he tried to chase the fox from their garden after spotting it lurking near their shed around 2pm on Tuesday.
But as he shooed it down the side of the house it ran into the open front door and attacked Raeya.
Full-time carer Darren said: “This fox had been hanging around the back garden and we rang the RSPCA and asked them to get rid of it because it had killed a neighbour’s cat and we were worried that there were kids around.
Terry Woods, who runs fox control service Fox-A-Gon, said urban foxes are unlikely to enter homes unless they are very young or have been fed by people on a regular basis.
“That means they lose their fear of humans,” he explained.
“In that scenario a fox could go through a cat-flap and eat the cat food.
“The fox is always a wild animal, I know there are people that train them and turn them into companion animals, but it will always be a wild animal.
“For the sake of the fox really people should leave them as a wild animal.”
Mr Woods advised people who find foxes in their homes to open the back door and wait for them to leave.
“I saw it in the garden and went to chase it away. It ran off down the side of the house and I thought it had gone.
"I went back into the house and my mate said I left the front door open. I went to close it and turned around and the fox was in the sitting room attacking little Raeya.
“I grabbed the baby and ran out and my mate grabbed the dog. The fox then ran out the house.
“It was lucky I caught it when I did. It could have ripped her throat out."
South Western Ambulance Service confirmed they had been called to the home, saying the baby girl was treated at the scene in the West Park area just before 2pm.
It is understood the animal had been spotted lurking in the family's garden in the days prior to the attack, with a photograph of the fox since shared on social media.
The baby's auntie said she was later taken to hospital where she received a tetanus injection and a course of antibiotics.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "This must’ve been shocking and upsetting for the child and their family and we hope she makes a full and speedy recovery.
"It's extremely unusual for foxes to attack young children - or anyone - and this is fortunately not typical fox behaviour.
"We were contacted by the family but we explained at the time that as an animal welfare charity we can only help sick and injured animals or if there is a concern for their welfare. We advised them on how to deter the fox from the area and to keep doors locked so there was no chance the fox could get inside.
"Foxes, like any wildlife, are generally wary of humans and will normally choose to run away if an escape route is available.
"We would warn people that approaching, handling or cornering any wild animal is potentially hazardous. If they are scared their natural instinct may be to retaliate."
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