Three-Month-Old Baby Left With Head Injuries After Fox Enters Family Home

A mother in Watford has described the terrifying moment she discovered her three-month-old daughter covered in blood after a fox entered the family home and appeared to bite the baby.

Carly Clarkson, 37, was at home with her two young daughters when the frightening incident happened on Thursday evening. CCTV footage later appeared to show a fox wandering around the family’s garden before making its way inside through an open back door.

The mother had reportedly fallen asleep while feeding her youngest daughter, Josephine. She was suddenly disturbed by the sensation of an animal close to her face. When she woke, she realized a fox was inside the house and appeared to be sniffing around her.

What she saw next left her horrified.

Blood was visible around baby Josephine, who was lying beside her. After taking a closer look, Clarkson discovered four puncture wounds on the infant’s head.

The mother immediately screamed and grabbed her daughter. She then chased the animal as it moved toward the top of the stairs before turning her attention to her other child, who was just one year old, to make sure she was safe.

Describing the frightening experience, Clarkson said she could hardly comprehend what had happened when she woke up and saw her baby’s blood beside her.

She said the injuries were particularly shocking because of how young her daughter was. The puncture wounds reportedly appeared severe, although doctors later confirmed that Josephine had escaped serious internal injury.

The family rushed the baby to Watford General Hospital at around 9:45 p.m. Doctors examined her and confirmed that there were no fractures to her skull and no apparent concerns involving her brain.

Josephine was nevertheless treated for the injuries and received medical care, including antibiotics and tetanus protection.

Mother fears what could have happened

Clarkson said she believes the outcome could have been much worse.

She suggested that the position in which she and her baby had fallen asleep may have prevented the animal from causing more serious injuries. She was particularly concerned that the fox could have bitten Josephine on the face or injured an important blood vessel.

The mother also wondered whether the animal may have been attempting to drag the baby away.

Although Josephine was fortunate not to suffer more serious harm, the incident has left Clarkson deeply shaken.

She said she now feels uncomfortable allowing her daughters to play in the garden and is reluctant to leave doors open, even during warm weather.

For a mother who previously regarded her home as a safe environment for her children, the incident has created a profound sense of insecurity.

Clarkson said she felt as though her home had been violated and that she no longer felt completely safe with two young children around.

She also raised concerns about the possibility that foxes in the neighborhood may have become unusually comfortable around humans.

According to her, the animals may have been fed by residents or may simply have become accustomed to living close to people. Such behavior, she believes, could explain why a fox was willing to approach the family home and enter through an open door.

Another fox seen outside the house

The family’s concerns increased further when they encountered another fox shortly after the incident.

As Clarkson and her husband prepared to take Josephine to hospital, they reportedly saw a fox approaching the front entrance of their home. The animal appeared to be attempting to come inside.

The family could not confirm whether it was the same fox that had entered the house, but the encounter added to their fears.

CCTV footage from the garden appeared to capture an animal moving around outside shortly before it entered the property. The footage has since become an important part of the family’s account of what happened.

Clarkson said the experience has made her anxious about everyday activities that previously seemed completely normal, such as spending time in the garden or opening the back door.

She also contacted local authorities and sought advice about what could be done to prevent foxes from approaching the property.

Council contacted following incident

The family reported the incident to Watford Borough Council and also explored whether additional measures could be arranged privately.

According to Clarkson, the options suggested by the council were limited. She said one possibility involved deterrent pellets costing around £300, which could potentially discourage foxes from entering the area.

The mother believes more needs to be done to address the presence of foxes that appear unusually comfortable around residential properties.

She has also contacted The Fox Project, an organization that works with foxes and provides advice relating to human-wildlife interactions.

Clarkson said she considers her family extremely fortunate that Josephine’s injuries were not more serious.

The baby reportedly required antibiotics and tetanus treatment, but doctors found no evidence of a skull fracture or brain injury.

For Clarkson, however, the incident remains deeply disturbing because of what might have happened.

She expressed concern that another family could experience a similar encounter and potentially face a much more serious outcome.

Experts say such attacks are exceptionally unusual

Trevor Williams, founder of The Fox Project, said incidents involving foxes entering homes and injuring people are extremely uncommon.

He suggested that the animal involved may have been a young fox rather than an experienced adult.

According to Williams, adult foxes generally avoid situations in which they would be exposed to people. Young animals, however, can behave differently as they begin exploring their surroundings and become separated from their families.

The timing of the incident may also be significant.

Late summer is a period when young foxes begin dispersing from the areas where they were raised. As they move away from their families, some inexperienced animals can wander into unfamiliar environments.

Most young foxes quickly learn to keep their distance from humans. However, Williams explained that there can occasionally be exceptions.

A young animal may enter an open building simply because it is curious about an unfamiliar environment. If it encounters no immediate threat, it may continue exploring rather than immediately running away.

In this particular case, Williams believes the animal’s behavior may have been driven by curiosity rather than deliberate aggression.

He suggested that the fox may have investigated the baby and, because of its young age and developing behavior, used its teeth on the infant’s skin.

Although the circumstances were extremely alarming, Williams emphasized that serious incidents of this nature are very rare.

He noted that The Fox Project had not heard of a similar case for many years, with the last comparable reports dating back roughly to the early 2010s.

Advice for families living near foxes

Despite the rarity of such incidents, wildlife experts say residents can take straightforward precautions to reduce the likelihood of foxes entering their homes.

One of the simplest measures is to keep external doors closed, particularly when young children are sleeping or playing nearby.

While hot weather can make it tempting to leave doors open, keeping entrances secured can prevent curious animals from wandering inside.

For people who regularly encounter foxes around their gardens, Williams also recommends using safe, non-toxic mammal repellents. These products are widely available through garden centers and hardware stores and may help discourage animals from repeatedly visiting a property.

Residents should also avoid deliberately feeding foxes, as regular access to food can make wild animals increasingly comfortable around people.

The incident has highlighted the sometimes unexpected consequences of wildlife becoming accustomed to residential environments.

For Clarkson and her family, what began as an ordinary evening quickly became a terrifying emergency. A wild animal had crossed the boundary between the garden and the family home, leaving their youngest child injured and her parents deeply shaken.

Fortunately, Josephine did not suffer the most serious injuries her mother feared. Medical examinations found no damage to her skull or brain, and her wounds were treated.

Nevertheless, the family is now taking extra precautions around their home.

The frightening encounter also serves as a reminder that even animals commonly seen in urban neighborhoods remain wild creatures. While fox attacks on people are extraordinarily rare, families can reduce potential risks by avoiding feeding wildlife, keeping doors secured and using appropriate non-toxic deterrents when necessary.

For Clarkson, the memory of waking to find her tiny daughter bleeding will remain with her for a long time. Her greatest relief is that Josephine survived the frightening encounter without the serious injuries her mother initially feared.