Update March 5: The rabid fox found last week in Yorktown came into contact with a dog, who is now being monitored at his home for 45 days.
Peninsula Health District Environmental Health Supervisor Howard Masters said the dog overpowered the fox during a fight in the Chisman Creek and Boathouse Creek area of York County.
The dog’s owner killed the fox and notified the Peninsula Health District, who collected the fox’s remains for testing, which came back positive for rabies.
The dog, who Masters said was up-to-date on vaccinations, was given a booster shot and is currently undergoing a 45-day confinement in its home “just as a precaution,” Masters said.
He stressed the importance of getting pets vaccinated to prevent rabies and avoiding contact with wildlife.
The health district encourages citizens to vaccinate their pets, report all exposures to animals, refrain from coming into contact with wild animals and abstain from feeding pets outside or leaving trash uncovered.
Anyone with information regarding exposure to the fox in Chisman or Boathouse Creek is asked to call the Health Department at 757-594-7340. Citizens can call the Yorktown Animal Control dispatch after hours at 757-890-3621.
Correction: The article has been updated to reflect the circumstances surrounding the rabid fox. Incorrect information was provided in a previous version.
