Wake County reports rabid fox attack. Protect yourself and your pets
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wake County reported its fourth rabies attack in the past month
- Officials urge updated vaccinations and reporting of unusual wildlife behavior.
- Low-cost rabies clinics operate in Durham, Orange and Wake counties for residents.
A man was bitten by a rabid fox in a Wake Forest neighborhood, Wake County officials confirmed Thursday.
It happened Tuesday near the corner of Pulley Town Road and Thornburg Drive, according to Wake County Public Health and Wake County Animal Control.
The man was doing yard work outside his home when he was attacked, said Arevik Badalyn Drewek, the county’s senior communications consultant.
Animal Control later captured and euthanized the fox to test it for rabies. The test came back positive Wednesday, according to a county news release.
The Wake Forest man has started a series of rabies shots, Drewek wrote in an email to The News & Observer.
Post-exposure treatment consists of five total shots over 14 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The county has not received other reports about incidents with the fox but planned to canvass the neighborhood to notify residents and see if any local pets need to be vaccinated.
“When a rabies case is confirmed, Wake County Animal Control may check the vaccination status of pets in the surrounding area,” Drewek said in the email.“This is a proactive measure to help prevent the spread of rabies, ensure residents are aware of the potential risk and confirm that local pets are protected.”
North Carolina law requires dogs, cats and ferrets over 4 months old to have current rabies vaccinations. Depending on the vaccine offered, the shot can provide protection for one or three years.
“While rare, rabies is a deadly disease that can spread from animals to humans, so it’s critical to take simple steps to protect yourself and your pets,” Wake County Commissioner Safiyah Jackson said in the county news release. “Avoid contact with wild animals, make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations and report any unusual animal behavior to authorities right away.”
The Public Health department suggests anyone in the area who may have encountered the fox call the county’s communicable disease line at 919-250-4462.
What is rabies and how is it prevented?
Rabies is spread through contact with saliva from an infected animal, typically through a bite. The virus attacks the brain and spinal cord.
A person who gets rabies and is not treated can experience flu-like symptoms that progress into delirium, abnormal behavior, fear of water and insomnia, the N&O has previously reported.
“It’s so important to get treated because once symptoms develop, you have almost a 100% chance of death,” Falyn Owens of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission previously told the N&O. “But that’s very, very preventable.”
Wake County offers these tips:
- Do not feed or interact with unknown and stray animals, including cats and dogs.
- Keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Boosters are recommended for pets allowed outside. Keep pets inside if they have not received boosters.
- Use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid to secure trash left outside. Otherwise, avoid leaving trash outside.
- If a pet is fed outside, do not leave food out overnight
- If a pet comes in contact with a potentially rabid animal, contact a veterinarian immediately.
- Immediately seek medical help if you are scratched or bitten by an animal whose vaccination history is unknown.
Can I tell if an animal has rabies?
Laboratory testing confirms whether an animal has rabies.
Rabid animals may show unusual behavior, such as aggressiveness or excessive drooling. Non-professionals should not try to determine if an animal is infected.
Instead, Wake County urges people to keep a safe distance from unknown or wild animals and to report animals acting strangely to Animal Control.
Though foxes typically travel at night, it not unusual to see them during the day. A daytime sighting does not mean the fox has rabies.
Where to get low-cost rabies shots in Durham, Orange and Wake counties
People who live in Durham, Orange, or Wake County may be able to get their pets vaccinated at little or no cost.
- The Durham County Sheriff’s Office provides rabies vaccinations for $10 cash. The clinic is open to residents every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. -11 a.m. and 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m, by appointment only.
- Orange County Animal Services offers $10 clinics on specific dates. The next clinic is Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Animal Services building on Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill.
- Wake County offers residents free rabies and microchip clinics, though upcoming clinics have not been announced.
For more information about rabies, go to wake.gov/StopRabies
This story was originally published June 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Wake County reports rabid fox attack. Protect yourself and your pets."
