A bizarre fox attack at a Salisbury steak house had patrons and employees jumping and scrambling for cover.

The attack happened near closing time Thursday, when customers encountered a wild fox in the parking lot. Feeling threatened, they ran inside the slow-release door at Chef Fred's Chesapeake Steakhouse, Bar & Grill. The fox followed them inside.

"It was a bizarre thing," said Sara Hall, a manager at Chef Fred's Chesapeake Steakhouse, Bar & Grill. "I've never been so scared in my life."

Once inside the building, the fox scampered into the dining room area, into the bar area and back to the dining area, causing employees and patrons to take cover. Several jumped onto tables or chairs.

Hall told The (Salisbury) Daily Times that she went to discover what was causing the ruckus, when the fox lunged at her and bit her hand.

"One of the bouncers at the bar starts to choke the fox, and it still wouldn't let go," Hall said.

Employees eventually got the fox outside, where it ran off.

"My first response was, 'Are you kidding me?'" said co-owner Fred Briggeman, who was called to the restaurant at 2 a.m. and arrived just after the fox had left.

Hall received shots at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in case the animal was rabid.

"Thank goodness it was close to closing time or it could have been a lot worse," she told the newspaper.

Animal control officers found the fox near the restaurant and put it down Friday, said manager Vicki Torney.