A fox that may or may not have rabies bit a visitor at a popular Staten Island park, prompting state officials to issue a safety advisory in effect through at least Monday.
According to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the advisory is in effect for Mount Loretto Unique Area in the borough’s South Shore, following a report that a visitor was bitten by a fox on the grounds on Aug. 28.
The advisory is in effect at least through Aug. 31 and warns visitors to “be vigilant” due to the presence of a fox that may be infected with the viral disease.
“Visitors should exercise caution and are advised to avoid contact with any animal while recreating,” the advisory states. “DEC continues to closely monitor the area and look for the fox and requests visitors to report any sightings of foxes in the area demonstrating unusual behavior.”
It also urges people to avoid approaching or feeding wildlife.
The state agency did not provide further information on what might have led up to the bite.
What is rabies? And how is it treated?
FILE PHOTO: A fox on Staten Island.Barbara Russo-Lennon
Rabies is a serious disease that attacks the nervous system of mammals, including humans. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but preventable if treatment is given as soon as possible after exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies spreads primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal.
The animals most frequently found with rabies in the United States are bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes. The only definitive way to find out if an animal, in fact, has rabies is to examine the brain after euthanasia. There is no live test for rabies in animals.
The DEC advisory comes amid an increase in rabies cases among animals on Staten Island this summer compared to 2025. According to the NYC Department of Health, four raccoons in the borough tested positive for rabies in June and July 2026, up from just two during the same period last year.
Through July 27, nine animals on Staten Island had tested positive for rabies this year, all of them raccoons. In 2025, seven animals tested positive for rabies in the borough — six raccoons and one cat.
amNewYork contacted the health department to ask about rabies, whether the numbers are part of normal fluctuations and to comment on the situation; the newspaper is awaiting a response.
In 2022, the health department, along with city parks, announced a program to vaccinate raccoons against rabies throughout the boroughs. That year, six animals tested positive for rabies on Staten Island, including raccoons, bats and a cat.
In the meantime, the DEC urges New Yorkers to report unusual animal behavior to dispatch at 844-DEC-ECOS (844-332-3267) and for emergencies, call 911.