Rabid Fox Bites Glen Ridge Woman Trying To Protect Children: Police

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A red fox has tested positive for rabies after biting a Glen Ridge woman on Chestnut Hill Place earlier this month, the “only reported incident of this nature” in the township’s recent history, authorities say.

The incident took place around 6:10 p.m. on July 19, when a resident allegedly saw the fox “acting aggressively towards children in the street,” according to the Glen Ridge Police Department.

Police said that when the woman “attempted to scare the fox away” it reportedly attacked and bit her. A neighbor was able to separate the woman from the fox prior to police arrival on the scene.

Glen Ridge police learned that the fox tested positive for rabies on July 24, authorities announced Friday.

Healthy foxes “pose virtually no danger to humans,” the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection states.

Myrtis Yake, who lives in the Gregory area of West Orange near the South Orange border, told Patch that she and her neighbors have frequently see a red fox running through their properties this summer.

The spotted fox (or foxes) always seem to be running from animals and people, Yake said.

“My cat chased the fox off our property and across the street very early one morning this summer as I watched from the front porch,” she said.

Frank Carrini said that he took the below fox photo in Cedar Grove on Mother's Day this year, but he's "seen him a few times after that."

Do you know of a local fox, bear or other wild animal sighting that you think your neighbors should know about? Send news tips and photos to eric.kiefer@patch.com

According to the Glen Ridge Police Department:

“The New Jersey State Fish, Game, and Wildlife Commission has been notified of the incident. Any concerns for wildlife population control and behavior questions may be directed to NJS Fish & Game Wildlife Control at 908-735-8793. The Glen Ridge Police Department reminds residents to take caution when wildlife is observed in town. Should there be an immediate concern about an animal, contact the police department. This is the only reported incident of this nature in the borough.”

Glen Ridge police recommended the following websites for additional information about foxes in New Jersey:

• http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/speciesinfo_fox.htm
• http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/faq/rabies_faq.pdf

According to the NJDEP:

“Foxes, especially red foxes, commonly live in close association with human residences and communities. They frequently inhabit yards, parks, and golf courses, especially areas that adjoin suitable, undeveloped habitat. Healthy foxes pose virtually no danger to humans. Foxes can grow accustomed to human activity but are seldom aggressive toward people. Expanding housing development, particularly in historically rural areas, increases the chances of interactions between humans and foxes, as well as other wildlife.”

The NJ DEP continues:

“Many homeowners do not realize that their lawn may be a more attractive habitat to foxes than surrounding mature forest. Eliminating healthy foxes is not warranted based solely on human safety concerns. People uncomfortable with the presence of foxes should remove attractants, exclude foxes with fencing and employ scaring techniques. In many cases, homeowner's perceptions of problems are unfounded and in some cases, the mere presence of a fox is perceived as a problem.”

However, the NJ DEP adds:

“Foxes can carry the organisms responsible for several contagious diseases such as mange, distemper and rabies. Animals that appear sick or that are acting abnormally should be avoided. The following symptoms may indicate the presence of rabies or other neurological diseases in mammals: unprovoked aggression, impaired movement, paralysis or lack of coordination, unusually friendly behavior and disorientation… Local animal control officers, police, or the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Wildlife Control Unit or the DEP Hotline (877-WARN-DEP) should be contacted if assistance is needed with a diseased animal.”

File Photo (not the animal seen in the above article): Wikimedia Commons