Incident in Watford home

Carly Clarkson, 37, has described waking to find a fox inside her home in Watford, Hertfordshire, biting the head of her three-month-old daughter Josephine as the pair slept. According to accounts carried across multiple outlets including the Bristol Post, Daily Mirror, The Sun and Gloucestershire Live, Clarkson had dozed off while feeding Josephine when she was startled by the animal sniffing her face. She then noticed blood around the baby lying beside her.

Clarkson screamed upon realising the full extent of what had occurred, seeing four bloody puncture wounds on Josephine’s head. She told reporters the wounds “looked like a dog had bitten a football.” Snatching up her daughter, she chased the fox to the top of the stairs before checking that her one-year-old daughter was unharmed in another room.

The fox had entered through an open back door. Clarkson later said: “Imagine waking up and your child's blood is next to you. It was absolutely horrifying.” She added that she felt “absolutely violated” and no longer safe in her home with two young children. She suggested the animal may have been attempting to pull Josephine away, and noted that the sleeping position may have prevented wounds to the face or a leg artery.

Medical assessment and immediate aftermath

Clarkson took Josephine to Watford General Hospital at around 9.45pm on Thursday 20 August. Medical staff confirmed there were no skull fractures and no concerns about the baby’s brain, as reported consistently by sources including Cambridge Evening News, Coventry Telegraph, Kentlive and South Wales Echo.

As the family left for hospital, Clarkson and her husband saw a fox—possibly the same one—approach the front door and appear to try to enter. CCTV footage from the garden showed a fox wandering around moments before the entry into the house, according to The Sun and other outlets that carried the family’s account.

Clarkson said she is now afraid to use the garden or leave doors open while her daughters are present. She expressed concern that the same fox or multiple foxes may have become too comfortable around people, possibly through feeding.

Council response and expert advice

The family reported the incident to Watford Borough Council, which offered £300 worth of pellets as a deterrent. Clarkson also contacted The Fox Project for assistance.

Trevor Williams, founder of The Fox Project, stated that incidents of this kind are extremely rare, with the last similar case occurring around 2010 or 2012. He attributed the event to a young fox cub during the annual dispersal season, when young animals leave their family groups and explore new territory. Williams advised householders to keep doors closed and to use non-toxic repellents. In comments carried by The Sun he emphasised the importance of securing doors even in warm weather.

Perspectives

Carly Clarkson has described the experience as leaving her feeling violated and unsafe in her own home, highlighting what she sees as foxes becoming overly acclimatised to people, possibly through feeding. She has spoken of the lasting impact on her willingness to leave doors open or use the garden with her young children.

Trevor Williams of The Fox Project has characterised such attacks as extremely uncommon and explained the behaviour as that of a curious young cub during natural dispersal rather than a broader pattern of aggression. His organisation recommends practical prevention measures focused on securing entrances and non-lethal deterrents.