A three-month-old baby girl was treated in hospital after a fox crept into her family home in Hertfordshire and bit her on the head while she slept.

The incident occurred in Watford after 37-year-old mother-of-two Carly Clarkson fell asleep while feeding her daughter, Josephine. The back door to the property had been left open during the warm weather.

Clarkson was woken by the animal sniffing directly at her face before she noticed blood beside her baby. Upon closer inspection, she discovered four deep puncture wounds on Josephine's head, which she later described as looking "like a dog had bitten a football."

After screaming, Clarkson snatched up the baby and chased the animal towards the top of the stairs, before rushing into an adjoining bedroom to check that her one-year-old daughter was unharmed.

The family rushed Josephine to Watford General Hospital at around 9.45pm on Thursday, 20 August. Medical staff examined the three-month-old and confirmed that there were no fractures to her skull and no concerns regarding brain injury. She was discharged after receiving tetanus shots and a course of antibiotics.

Speaking after the ordeal, Clarkson said she was left feeling "absolutely violated" and scared to use her garden or leave doors open around her children. She suggested the animal might have been attempting to pull the baby away, adding that she believed local foxes were becoming "out of control" and increasingly comfortable around people, potentially due to being fed.

As Clarkson and her husband left their home to take Josephine to hospital, they spotted a fox—which they believe may have been the same animal—approaching the front door and seemingly trying to enter again. CCTV footage from their garden showed what appeared to be the animal wandering outside moments before it first got into the house.

The family reported the incident to Watford Borough Council and investigated private deterrent options, though they were told the only available measure was deterrent pellets priced at £300. Clarkson subsequently contacted wildlife charity The Fox Project for further guidance.

Trevor Williams, the founder of The Fox Project, stated that the behaviour indicated a young cub of around four and a half months old rather than an adult. He explained that this time of year marks the annual dispersal period when fox families break up, leading curious young cubs to investigate unfamiliar territory.

Williams noted that while natural instincts usually cause foxes to avoid close human proximity, an undisturbed cub will occasionally wander through open doors. In this case, he said, it appeared the cub was exploring and tested its teeth on the baby's skin, resulting in superficial injuries.

He emphasised that such incidents are extraordinarily rare, noting that the charity had not heard of anything similar since between 2010 and 2012. To prevent unwanted wildlife encounters, Williams advised homeowners to keep doors closed and recommended the use of safe, non-toxic mammal repellents available from garden centres.

For now, Josephine is recovering at home, though the encounter has left her family cautious about open doors as the summer continues. I'll be keeping an eye on this story and whether local authorities issue any further guidance for suburban households.