I think I saw a rabid fox in Carrboro today (Raleigh: chapel, neighborhood)

[no kudzu]

I posted on the gardening forum today that I witnessed a fox chasing three large deer in my front yard this morning. I thought that rather unusual behavior for a fox and several folks suggested if it was a fox it was probably rabid and it might have been a coyote. It all happened so fast I can't be sure. I have called animal control and left a voice mail. I am keeping my kids in today.

We have had several fox sightings in our Carrboro neighborhood but nobody seems to get upset about it making comments like "it's just a fox being a fox" but they are nocturnal and should not be seen during daylight hours.

I have seen a rabid dog in France years ago and it was a horrible sight. What else can I do to protect my family and really, what can animal control do? I walk my small dog on a leash in the morning and evening and I carry a "fox stick" but I don't think I'd be much of a match for a rabid fox. I remember a woman was attacked in a nearby parking lot just a few weeks ago. Any suggestions?

[lamishra]

Foxes absolutley are seen during daylight hours even though they are primarily nocturnal. I wouldn't assume it was rabid and I wouldn't worry too much unless it's really acting suspiciously (you see it staggering around in the woods, etc) or seems particularly aggressive towards you or pets).
Here's a recent article about them from the N Raleigh news: Foxes draw concerns - News - North Raleigh News

[CHTransplant]

There have been coyote sightings in Carrboro, if that's a possibility.

I've seen foxes in daylight around Chapel Hill - only in early morning or late evening though.

[Snarky Prof]

You should probably report this to the Department of Environmental Conservation or whoever is in charge of wildlife management. Our pets will not be infected, so long as their rabies shot is up to date. However, there can be a serious issue if a human comes in contact.

[lovebrentwood]

I've seen rabid foxes twice in my life, and they looked like raggedy, slow-moving, sickly dogs, and they were seen in the daytime. They didn't care who saw them.

So maybe the ones you saw weren't rabid.

[no kudzu]

Interesting article-thank you. apparently there is nothing anybody will or can do untill the fox actually attacks. Absolutely ridiculous if it is your child the fox attacks. I can understand why the lady in the article feels trapped in her own home. If a fox came to my screen door and barked at me you better believe there is something I would do. Protective mamas are protective mamas no matter what the species.

[Janecj]

I have foxes in my yard. They are out in the day time and they do run off other wildlife if they have babies. They may be protecting their young which you may not have seen. There is so much media attention right now that you do need to be aware and be cautios, but it also makes people jump to conclusions.

[andthentherewere3]

I see foxes during the day all the time! Definitely not an indication of rabies, they are not exclusively nocturnal:

Foxes: The Red and the Gray | The Humane Society of the United States
Foxes are primarily nocturnal in urban areas, but this seems to be more a method to avoid humans than an actual preference. (It's a popular misconception that a fox out and about during the daytime is disturbed or sick.) They will be active by day as long as they feel secure, and are near enough to safety. This is when they pursue prey, such as squirrels, who are also active by day.

Gray foxes are the shier of the two species. Red foxes are sometimes downright outgoing, showing brazenness that is so overt as to be disarming. A hiker along a woodland trail may encounter a fox who does not retreat, but sits and watches the human approach. Likewise, a homeowner hanging laundry may watch a fox walk through the yard, going about its business, seemingly oblivious to the human nearby.

[Sant]

Originally Posted by CHTransplant

There have been coyote sightings in Carrboro, if that's a possibility.

I've seen foxes in daylight around Chapel Hill - only in early morning or late evening though.

I see foxes around Chapel Hill all the time-- especially around campus!

Seriously, we have a red fox that lives in our backyard. Sometimes we see him walk by at night and check out what we're watching on tv. It's quite funny.

[frogandtoad]

Foxes ARE out in daytime. does not sound like there's anything to worry about with what you described.

To the poster who said it's a huge deal if a person gets bitten, no it's not. We went through this ourselves with an animal bite from a potentially rabid animal. You get a serious of shots, at something like days 1,3,5,7, 14, 28. They are not in the stomach anymore--they are just regular shots (one shot each visit except the first visit, which is 2 shots) and you get them in the muscle (arm, leg, butt--whichever you want). It's really not a big deal.