#8-year-old girl attacked by fox while playing outside NJ home

An 8-year-old girl in New Jersey was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after she was attacked by a fox outside her family’s home in Essex County, according to the Livingston Police Department.

The girl was playing near a shed on Springbrook Road when the critter jumped out and bit her, causing “small puncture wounds” on her lower leg and foot, Livingston PD Detective Lt. Chris Reinhardt told NJ.com.

A neighbor who heard the attack swept in a chased the typically shy creature away, according to Reinhardt.

The little girl was taken to St. Barnabas Medical Center, but her condition was not immediately clear.

While foxes can prey on small pets or livestock, they generally try to avoid humans, according to the Humane Society. Foxes can pose a threat to humans while rabid, but that’s “very rare,” according to the nonprofit.

Police said late Wednesday that Livingston Animal Control was still looking for the furry culprit involved in the attack.

The department could not be reached for further comment Thursday afternoon.

With Post wires.