Roland Park Foxes Test Positive For Rabies

Two foxes picked up in Roland Park have tested positive for rabies, health officials said, setting off a neighborhood canvass around Stoney Run Park and fresh warnings for local pet owners. The animals were found near the park, and at least one had direct contact with a person, officials said. City animal control urged neighbors to look over their pets for any unexplained wounds and to make sure rabies vaccinations are up to date. The discovery has raised alarms because foxes can spread rabies to people and pets if the virus is not quickly contained.

One fox was picked up near the intersection of Overhill Road and Meadow Lane, and the other was taken from the 4400 block of Linkwood Road, both bordering Stoney Run Park, according to FOX45. Health Department officers canvassed the surrounding blocks on Tuesday evening and interviewed residents in an effort to identify anyone who might have been exposed. Animal Control said it believes as many as five additional foxes may be part of the same den.

One of the foxes had direct contact with humans, while the other was not reported to have any human exposure. After interviews, officials identified another potential human contact near Linkwood Road, FOX45 reports. “We take any rabies exposure seriously,” Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Taylor said in a press release cited by the station. Residents in the area were urged to monitor their pets closely and report any suspicious animal behavior.

How to report or get help

If you handled a fox or saw one behaving oddly in Roland Park, the Baltimore City Health Department asks you to call the Office of Acute Communicable Disease at 410‑396‑4436 during business hours or 410‑396‑3100 after hours, according to the Baltimore City Health Department. The agency also asks residents to keep dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated against rabies and to avoid handling wild animals. Animal control will investigate reported contacts and may recommend post‑exposure evaluation for people or quarantine for pets.

Why rabies matters

Rabies is rare in people but fatal if untreated: in the United States, most animal rabies cases are found in wildlife, and public‑health officials rely on prompt reporting and post‑exposure care to prevent human cases, the CDC notes. That makes the Roland Park findings more than just an unsettling neighborhood wildlife story; it is a public‑health concern for neighbors and pet owners.

What pet owners should do

Pet owners should ensure rabies shots are current and bring any animal with suspicious wounds to a veterinarian immediately, according to the Maryland Department of Health. If a pet has direct contact with a potentially rabid animal, local officials may order quarantine or recommend testing and vaccination; veterinarians and animal control can advise on next steps. For people, post‑exposure prophylaxis, a combination of rabies immune globulin and vaccine, is the standard prevention and must begin promptly after possible exposure.

Baltimore City Animal Control said it will continue to monitor the area and is asking residents to report unusual animal behavior. If you saw or handled a fox in Roland Park, call the health department at 410‑396‑4436 or the city operator at 410‑396‑3100, per the Baltimore City Health Department. Officials say the best defense for neighbors is simple: keep pets vaccinated and give wildlife plenty of space.