On the afternoon of March 7  Halifax County Central Communications received a call concerning a fox trying to attack some contractors working at a residence on Macon Place Road located in the Ferncliff area of Lake Gaston. 

Halifax County Animal Control was dispatched and upon arrival found a fox laying in the yard. The animal tried to attack the responding officer. 

The fox was sent to the State Laboratory Of Public Health for rabies testing.  

The fox tested  positive for rabies and animal control was notified of the results.

Halifax County Animal Control is asking anyone that may have come in contact with this animal between March 2 through 7 to contact the Halifax County Public Health System at 252-583-5021. 

With springtime nearing Halifax County Animal Control would like to remind people of the following:

Spring is the baby animal season and it is also the beginning of animal-borne disease season. Rabies is one of the fatal diseases that is spread by animals to humans.

The best way to keep safe from animal-borne diseases like rabies is to avoid direct contact with wild animals. If you see an animal do not approach it, and keep your pets and children away from it. This applies even if the animal is hurt, sick, dying or dead, as well as if you see a baby animal alone — its parent is typically nearby.

 If you, your child or your pet has been in direct contact with wildlife — even just touching it — you need to call your veterinary or health care professional and your public health system right away for additional medical guidance. 

If you have found a bat in your home, even if no one has been in contact with it, call the health department at 252-583-5021, as bat bites can be very small and hard to detect

Rabies is most frequently found in skunks, raccoons and bats in Halifax County, but can be passed to any mammal, including foxes, raccoons, coyotes and more. 

Infected animals can pass rabies to domestic animals and people through bites, scratches or exposure to saliva. 

Rabies infection in unvaccinated animals is nearly always fatal. Post-exposure treatment for people exposed to rabies is expensive and intensive, so it’s extremely important to take precautions to prevent exposure and infection before it happens. 

The NC General statue listed below requires all dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months or older to be vaccinated for rabies:

130A-185.  Vaccination required.

(a) Vaccination required. - The owner of an animal listed in this subsection over four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies:

(1) Cat.

(2) Dog.

(3) Ferret.

Seeing a wild animal outdoors is normal, but knowing the signs of what is not normal can help determine when it’s time to call animal control. 

If you see an animal that is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, call  animal control:

A nocturnal animal (like a bat or a skunk) that is out and active during the daytime.

A wild animal that is overly aggressive or that appears overly tame or friendly.

Excessive drooling of saliva.

An animal biting at imaginary objects.

An animal that is staggering, having trouble moving, or appears paralyzed.

A bat that is on the ground