Published on July 10, 2026
Tompkins County Whole Health (TCHW) is reporting that a potentially rabid fox has been reported in the wooded area between Stone Quarry/Elmira Road, as far south as the Byrne Dairy at 323 Elmira Rd. (Ithaca, NY), on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
The fox has been reported to have charged and bit a person. If you, your pets, or someone you know have had contact with a fox in this area, please call TCWH’s Environmental Health Division (EH) at (607) 274-6688. Staff are on-call to respond to messages received by the answering service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Foxes can be a carrier of the rabies virus, which is a serious, potentially fatal disease. A small number of rabid animals are confirmed in Tompkins County every year.
Be alert for suspicious rabies behavior:
Drooling or foaming at mouth
Lethargy (sluggishness, staggering, unable to get up, seem unbothered by people)
Aggressive (biting, snapping, lunging)
If you see a suspicious animal, contact non-urgent dispatch for assistance: 607-273-8000. For emergencies, always dial 911.
TCWH reminds everyone to:
Avoid contact with any unfamiliar cats or dogs and any wild animals.
All cats, dogs and ferrets must have initial rabies vaccinations administered no later than four months of age. Keep vaccinations current! Check back to our website for our next round of free rabies vaccination clinics to be held in September. For other free or low-cost rabies vaccine programs, contact the local chapter of the Street Dog Coalition or the Cornell Healthy Pet Clinic held at Ithaca’s Southside Community Center (305 S. Plain St., Ithaca).
Report the following incidents to the Tompkins County Environmental Health at 607 274-6688:
All animal bites or scratches.
Any human or pet contact with saliva or other potentially infectious material (brain tissue, spinal tissue, or cerebro-spinal fluid) of wild animals or any animal suspected of having rabies.
All bat bites, scratches, or any mere skin contact with a bat, or a bat in a room with a child, or sleeping or impaired person, or if you are not sure if contact has occurred.
Tompkins County Whole Health: envisioning a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X. Sign up to receive Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text.
- end -