Real Estate Photographer in San Marcos, TX

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KEYE) – While it’s not common for foxes to attack people, it happened four times on one trail in Texas over the weekend.

Michelle Danos was hiking the trails near the Purgatory Creek Natural area in San Marcos over the weekend when a fox suddenly appeared.

“I heard something in the brush, turned around. It was a fox walking, not running, not snarling, just walking towards me,” she said.

Then, all of a sudden, Danos said the fox attacked. She said she grabbed it with her hand and threw it.

“Then it came at me again and then I threw it on the ground. It came at me again,” she said.

Danos said the fox bit her hands and her fingers, but it didn’t stop there.

“By the fourth time I threw it into the trees, and it still came. Fifth time, I threw it in the cacti, and it came. Sixth time I was just wondering if anyone was going to hear me screaming for help,” Danos said.

Danos managed to get away, but not before the fox left its mark. Now, she’s walking with a crutch because her leg is still bleeding from Sunday’s attack.

“I ran screaming for help and I ran to a family. I asked them, call 911. They said, there’s already an ambulance in the parking lot for you,” she said.

Word of what happened traveled fast since Danos wasn’t the fox’s first victim of the day.

She’s one of four people the City of San Marcos said was attacked by a rabid fox Sunday near the Beatrice Dante and Ripheus trails.

“So right before me, someone got attacked and I heard a few people got attacked after me,” Danos said.

The attacks have health officials in the area concerned with people’s safety hiking there.

Madison McLarry with Hays County Public Health said their biggest concern is rabies.

“If you do progress through the symptoms of rabies, which can happen from a couple weeks to a couple months after exposure depending on where you’re bitten, if you’re showing symptoms, it’s almost always fatal,” McLarry said.

Danos got multiple rabies shots after the attack. She’s expected to make a full recovery.

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Four people are undergoing medical treatment after being exposed to the fox

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The City of San Marcos is warning residents of a potential rabies exposure after a fox reportedly attacked multiple people in Purgatory Creek Natural Area.

The reported attacks happened on Sunday near the Beatrice, Dante and Ripheus trails, according to a news release from the city.

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As of Monday morning, four people reported exposure to the fox and are undergoing medical treatment, the release said, with two of those people reporting being bitten by the animal.

“Foxes rarely attack humans, and the unusual behavior raises concerns that the animal may be sick, potentially with the rabies virus,” City of San Marcos Animal Service Manager Christie Banduch said. “It’s important that any individuals who may have been exposed seek medical attention as soon as possible.”

The release said Purgatory Creek Natural Area is still open to the public, but members of the community are advised to avoid the area, specifically the Beatrice, Dante and Ripheus trails, until further notice.

The fox attacks are being investigated by staff and the Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Division, the release said. Animal Protection officers are searching for the fox.

“If the fox is not found, the case will be handled as a presumed positive for rabies due to the nature of the incidents,” the release said.

Rabies is a virus spread through an animal’s saliva that can infect mammals, including wildlife, pets and humans, according to the release. The virus is fatal if not treated before symptoms occur.

Anyone who comes in physical contact or is bitten by a rabid animal should promptly seek post-exposure treatment, which officials said consists of a series of injections, to prevent contracting the virus.

The release urges anyone who may have come in contact with the fox to contact Animal Services at 512-805-2655 to ensure they are receiving proper care.

The city also urged pet owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies, which is required by state law and city ordinance.

For resources and information about obtaining low-cost rabies vaccinations for pets, click here.

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Increased reports of animals with rabies have been spreading across the Texas Hill Country in what's becoming an uncomfortable occurrence. Almost seven months since a Boerne resident was bitten by a possibly rabid fox, another Texas town is reporting an animal attack, this time in the I-35 corridor.

San Marcos officials are investigating an incident where four people were reportedly attacked by a fox on Sunday, May 11, in the Purgatory Creek Natural Area, a sprawling 570-acre park on the northwest side of the city. Two of those people were bitten by the fox, according to a news release, and all four are receiving medical treatment.

"Foxes rarely attack humans, and the unusual behavior raises concerns that the animal may be sick, potentially with the rabies virus," Animal Service Manager Christie Banduch said in the release. "It's important that any individuals who may have been exposed seek medical attention as soon as possible."

Purgatory Creek Natural Area remains pen to the public but the Beatrice, Dante and Ripheus trails — where the incident occurred — are to be avoided in order to lessen the potential risk to the public, the release shared. As of Monday, May 12, the fox has yet to be found but Animal Protection Officers are continuing their search. If it's not found the case will be handled "as a presumed positive for rabies due to the nature of the incidents."

"Rabies is a deadly virus that can infect mammals, including wildlife, pets, and humans. Rabies is spread through an animal’s saliva and is fatal if not treated before symptoms occur," the release shared. "It is important that anyone that comes in physical contact or is bitten by a rabid animal seek post-exposure treatment promptly to prevent contracting the virus. Post-exposure treatment for rabies that is provided soon after a bite or exposure is effective at preventing the virus from spreading. Post exposure treatment consists of a series of injections to build immunity to the rabies virus."

Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening a Central Texas city for its alleged "boycott" of Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. On Tuesday, April 29, Abbott sent a letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson to get rid of a resolution from city council regarding the transfer of "permanent sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories" and an "Embargo on the State of Israel."

In the letter, Abbott claims the resolution violates state law "by calling for San Marcos to limit its commercial relations with Israel." He references a law that prohibits governmental entities in Texas from entering into a grant agreement with the state unless it "does not boycott Israel."

This means that the state can withhold funds for programs in local governments if they refuse any business with Israel.

"Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas," Abbott wrote in the letter. "I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies. Over a year ago, following Hamas’s cowardly attack and campus disruptions openly celebrating terrorism, I issued an executive order addressing antisemitism in higher education. I have proudly signed legislation prohibiting government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel. That remains the law here."

Specifically, Abbott addresses a part of the resolution which says $4,434,675 of San Marcos residents’ taxes were sent to Israel and calls for the "reallocation of [such] local funds" away from "Israel’s military" and "towards essential domestic priorities." If San Marcos adopts the resolution, Abbott said that his office "will immediately terminate all active grants not in compliance with state law."

"It is difficult to believe that a city so carefully accounting for every dollar flowing to Israel and determined to 'reallocate' those funds in a self-described 'Embargo' on our ally is, at the same time, requiring written verification from its contracting partners that they will not boycott Israel," Abbott wrote. "This public expression of a desire to do what state law prohibits is unacceptable."

Abbott also added that his office "is already reviewing active grants with San Marcos to determine whether the City has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law." The resolution is expected to be considered at the city's next city council meeting on Tuesday, May 6.

A City of San Marcos spokesperson told MySA that "staff members do not provide interviews or public comments on items that are scheduled for consideration by the full City Council." MySA also reached out to the Mayor Hughson for comment.

SAN MARCOS, Texas - Tarleton State Baseball (17-25) came up short against Texas State (20-21) at the Bobcat Ballpark on Wednesday evening, losing 13-3.

Wednesday's game marked the second all-time matchup between the two squads. The Bobcats tallied 17 hits opposed to the Texans' four. Texas State had two errors while the Purple and White only had one. Additionally, the Bobcats' bullpen recorded eight strikeouts while Tarleton State had four.

notched a lead-off single in the first inning, accounting for the first of his team-high three hits. Heinrich now has a hit in eight straight appearances, the longest active hit streak among the team. Despite an early momentum boost from the freshman, Tarleton State was unable to score in the first frame.

The Bobcats took control of the lead early, registering three runs off four hits and an error. This scoring spurt included a sacrifice fly from Theo Kummer and back-to-back RBI singles from Zachary Gingrich and Samson Pugh. Texas State kept their foot on the gas during the second stanza, adding another three runs thanks to a sacrifice fly from Ryne Farber and a two-RBI single from Kummer, marking his third RBI in the first two innings.

The Texans remained scoreless despite a walk from and a one-out double from Heinrich in the top of the third. Following his three-hit performance against Texas State, Heinrich now leads the team with a .356 batting average and also ranks second on the squad with 34 runs.

After a scoreless third frame, the Bobcats put up another three-run spurt in the bottom of the fourth. The Texans responded to this with three runs of their own in the fifth frame. Brewster and Heinrich both got on base for the second consecutive time to lead things off. Then, a defensive miscue from the Bobcats allowed Brewster to score and to get on base safely with no outs. hit an RBI groundout that drove in Heinrich, making the game 9-2. The inning was capped off by an RBI single from to cut the lead to six runs. Following Wednesday's game, McCloud currently ranks second on the team with 37 RBIs this season.

pitched the entirety of the fifth inning, putting down the side via two strikeouts and a groundout. and each drew a walk to put runners on first and second base with no outs in the top of the sixth stanza. Tarleton State, however, was unable to score after a pitching substiution from Texas State, leaving the game at 9-3.

The Bobcats had their best inning of the ballgame, tallying four runs off six hits and two walks to seal the deal. The inning was highlighted by an RBI double from Cole Tabor and two RBI singles from Dawson Park and Pugh.

The Purple and White were unable to rally in time and ultimately dropped their midweek game to the Bobcats, 13-3. Tarleton State Baseball will look to bounce back this weekend when they host a three-game series against the Utah Tech Trailblazers. Get tickets here.