News Release

Reports of Aggressive Fox, Visitor Caution Advised

Date: September 25, 2024
Contact: Rainey McKenna, 802-478-4160
Contact: Eric Duffy, 802-457-3456

Woodstock, VT - Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and the Woodstock Police Department have received multiple reports in the last 48 hours of an aggressive fox approaching visitors on or near the Faulkner Trail on Mount Tom. Rabies is suspected as a possible cause. Individuals who encounter wildlife behaving aggressively or erratically in the vicinity of Mount Tom should immediately notify local police or park staff and seek medical attention if they come in contact with the animal. 

Rabies is a viral disease that is spread through saliva during a bite, scratch, or mucus membrane contact with an infected animal. Rabies is very preventable in humans with proper medical care given shortly after an exposure to the rabies virus, but it’s almost always fatal if untreated before disease develops. Possible rabies infections should be considered in animals that exhibit unusual or aggressive behavior or that are not afraid of humans. All mammals are susceptible to rabies, including bats, skunks, and foxes.   

Take the following precautions to protect yourself from rabies: 

• Visitors should observe all wildlife from a safe and respectful distance and never pick up or handle a wild animal. Never approach or touch wildlife. If you see sick or erratic behaving wildlife, notify a park employee at 802-457-3368 or call the Woodstock Police Department at 802-457-2337.  

• Anyone who has had contact with a wild animal in the park should notify a park employee as soon as possible. You should consult with your doctor in the event you have contacted an animal thought to be rabid. 

• Pets should always be on a leash of no more than 6-feet when on park trails. 

• Visitors with pets should ensure that all rabies vaccinations are up to date and should discuss any wildlife bites with their veterinarian. 

The town and park are working with Vermont Fish and Wildlife, and the NPS Office of Public Health and the Wildlife Health Branch to protect the health and safety of visitors and respond to this situation.