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A rabid gray fox attacked three people in two Boca Raton parks on the morning of July 9, 2009, before one victim killed the animal with a length of PVC pipe, according to Boca Raton police and Palm Beach County health officials.

The first attack happened at South Beach Park, where the fox chased down Stephen Guleff, 60, as he walked from the parking lot toward the boardwalk. Guleff grabbed a beach chair from his car to fend off the animal, but it bit him on the calf after he tried to kick it away. He fell during the encounter.

About ten minutes later, several blocks away at Red Reef Park, what authorities said appeared to be the same fox attacked Michael Noell, 57, and his wife Dani. The animal bit Dani on the knee and Michael on the calf.

Michael Noell found a length of PVC pipe nearby and used it to kill the fox. "He came out of the woods crazy," Noell told a 911 dispatcher. "I chased the sucker down." Police said the Noells called 911 at 8:42 a.m.

All three victims were taken to Boca Raton Community Hospital and treated for minor injuries. The Florida State Laboratory in Lantana confirmed the following day that the fox had rabies. Guleff began a monthlong series of rabies shots after the diagnosis. "I'm actually grateful that it happened to me and not a little child," he said.

Palm Beach County health officials asked Boca Raton residents to watch for animals behaving strangely, avoid contact with wildlife and report unusual encounters to Animal Care and Control. Anyone who may have had contact with a fox that Thursday was asked to call the Palm Beach County Health Department. Officials also reminded residents that domestic dogs and cats four months and older are required to be vaccinated against rabies.