New York Issues Rabies Warning After Fox Bites Visitor

According to a release from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, visitors to Mount Loretto Unique Area on Staten Island are being urged to use extra caution after a person was reportedly bitten by a fox at the property.

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The DEC is now warning visitors that a fox in the area could potentially be carrying rabies. Officials are actively searching for the animal and are asking anyone who spots a fox behaving strangely to report it rather than attempting to get closer for a better look.

And that's probably worth repeating don't approach the fox. Even if it looks cute, injured or strangely friendly, wildlife should be left alone. Animals infected with rabies can sometimes behave very differently from normal. According to the New York State Department of Health, warning signs can include unusual aggression or friendliness, losing their normal fear of people, staggering, unusual noises, paralysis, convulsions or excessive drooling.

Rabies is rare in people in the United States, but it is extremely serious. Early symptoms in humans can resemble the flu, including fever, headache and weakness, and some people experience unusual itching or tingling around the bite. Once serious symptoms begin, rabies is almost always fatal, which is why treatment after a potential exposure is so important.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal that could have rabies, don't just clean it up and forget about it. Wash the wound immediately with soap and water and contact a medical professional or local health department. Rabies prevention treatment can stop the disease from developing when given promptly.

The DEC is asking visitors to avoid interacting with wildlife and report unusual animal behavior to NYSDEC Dispatch at 1-844-332-3267. If there's an immediate emergency, call 911.

Basically, enjoy the park, enjoy the scenery and let the fox enjoy being a fox—from a safe distance.