Residents and visitors of Navajo County, take heed: rabies cases are on a troubling uptick. The Public Health Services District's own Rhonda Krouse, in an urgent update, informed that the once-rare reports of rabies in local wildlife are becoming alarmingly common. The culprit? An outbreak among the gray fox population.
Last year, a single domestic dog, and one fox were found with the virus. Fast forward to this summer, and already nine foxes have tested positive, as reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services' Director's Blog. What's more, a cluster of tests are pending, their results eagerly awaited as public health officials grapple with the escalation.
Rabies isn't to be taken lightly. The virus, transmittable to humans through bites or scratches, is fatal once symptoms present. At first glance, the symptoms are terrifyingly commonplace – seizures, hallucinations, paralysis.
The county's message is clear: keep domestic pets vaccinated as they serve as a critical barrier between infected wildlife and ourselves. The strategy is straightforward — vaccinated pets, less risk. If your furry friend tangles with any wildlife, particularly of the high-risk variety like foxes, coyotes, or bats, a vet should be your next call. Wear gloves, handle with care, and keep the county on speed dial if things seem off. Rhonda Krouse makes it plain: "Don't feed, touch, nurse to health, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs, or cats."
The implications run deeper than just avoiding an unwanted scratch or bite. Rabies ripples out, endangering the entire gray fox population, disrupting ecological balances, and altering the nature of human-wildlife interactions. It's a community issue, and everyone from public health officials to wildlife agencies has a stake in curbing the spread.
Outdoor adventurers, your idyllic hike or picnic requires a dash more vigilance. An animal acting outside its norms? That's your cue to bring in the experts. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, available at 623-236-7201, should be your point of contact for reporting any erratic animal behavior.
