Nunavut bylaw officer kills rabid fox in Pangnirtung

A fox was killed in Pangnirtung overnight after reports that the animal attacked a number of local dogs. (FILE PHOTO)

A bylaw officer in Pangnirtung killed a fox May 5 that is believed to have been rabid, after the animal attacked at least five dogs in the Baffin community.

At 1:30 a.m., authorities responded to a number of complaints about a fox wandering through the community of 1,500, showing aggressive behaviour and foaming at the mouth.

The previous evening, the hamlet received reports that the fox had bitten a number of dogs.

On May 5, the hamlet’s senior administrative officer, Shawn Trepanier, said five dogs that were reportedly bitten had since been destroyed by bylaw officers.

The hamlet is still on the lookout for any other animals that might have been infected with rabies.

“We’re telling people in the community to let us know if any of their dogs are showing strange behaviour,” Trepanier said. “We’re being very vigilant because we don’t want any other animals or residents to get infected.”

To prevent any other cases, the hamlet will host a vaccination clinic for local animals this week. Trepanier said residents should stay tuned to local radio for the clinic location and schedule.

Rabies, a potentially fatal viral disease that spreads from the bite of a rabid animal to another animal or human, affects the central nervous system.

It’s a disease found mostly in foxes and wolves in Nunavut and most often transmitted by bites from infected animals.

Animals with rabies can appear nervous, agitated or aggressive and may be foaming at the mouth.

Residents should stay away from animals showing those symptoms, said the Government of Nunavut’s health department May 5, and any one who is bitten or scratched by a fox or another animals should go directly to the local health centre.

Pangnirtung residents who have seen any foxes or wolves wandering around the community, or have seen their own pets in contact with those animals, should call the conservation officer immediately at 867-473-8937, the bylaw officer at 867-473-8415 or the regional environmental health officer at 867-473-2676.

A previous version of this story said incorrectly that a wildlife officer killed the fox. It was, in fact, the hamlet’s bylaw officer who destroyed the animal.