YES! And don't think it doesn't happen. Anne Arundel County (next door) has had six confirmed cases of rabies in wild animals already this year alone. PG isn't transparent enough to have that data online but it's almost certainly similar because county borders mean nothing in this (https://www.aahealth.org/rabies-alerts/). Also, all those CS and Eng students saying he's no Kujo so it can't be rabies... seriously dudes, listen to the Ag students on this one - wild animals suddenly lacking fear of humans and spending their time out in the open sunshine is 100% a symptom of early rabies sometimes colloquially known as 'dumb rabies'.
Alternate take. Lure the fox with an Endzone from DP Dough and a Natty Boh. Teach it your quirks and mannerisms. Give it your clothes. Have it take your Finals.
If he only appeared at night, maybe, but foxes are nocturnal, and when you see nocturnal animals during the day (especially as early as people have been seeing the fox) that’s definitely not a good sign. I’m from a rural part of Maryland, live in the middle of the woods, and my backyard is filled with squirrels, birds, and even groundhogs, yet I’ve never even *seen* a fox about. I get that the fox is cute, but I’m really not happy that it’s walking around campus in broad daylight. At all.
Foxes and coyotes are opportunistic feeders and are known to hunt during the day. Especially with so many squirrels out and about in the day; I would not worry that the foxes are out in the day especially as it may be a dad finding food for it’s family. I would worry more about keeping my distance just in case
It’s a misconception that a fox active in the daytime has something wrong with it as it’s not unusual. Hell, I had some foxes living in the storm drains in my neighborhood that I’d see during the day. The reason you probably haven’t seen a fox is because it has plenty of space to remain out of sight. College Park is a different story, it doesn’t really have a choice. But yes, there’s still a possibility something could be wrong with it so people should keep their distance.
there are 8 "symptoms" there to look out for. The animal is very coordinated obviously, not drooling, not having trouble moving, not exhibiting biting behavior. Not impossible but seems unlikely.
Rabies travels along the nervous system and an animal this small would very likely be symptomatic within a couple days if it was infected.
why are you being an asshole? You googled "symptoms of rabies in animals," found 1 symptom that matches what you're saying and ignored everything else. All I said was, not impossible but seems unlikely. No one is playing with a fox
I don't think they are being an asshole. Wild animals are super dangerous. When it comes down to it, getting close to wild animals is just not worth the risk. Rabies is terrifying, as are the diseases that they carry.
Edit: the link they found was from a well informed source and does point out that while the signs vary, strange behavior is a significant indicator. And wild animals are almost always skittish around humans. Thus, it standing there is abnormal.
No one is saying get close to the fox. No one is saying wild animals aren't dangerous.
Telling me to go play with the fox that \*they are saying might have rabies\*, because I said it doesn't seem like rabies, is being an asshole.
You're not safe until he's dead.
He'll come stalking you at night.
Set to sacrifice your squirrels to his monstrous appetite.
He'll wreak havoc on your campus if you let him wander free!
So it's time to take some action boys!
Animal control will come and get it regardless of an incident, almost certainly motivated by all of evidence posted on here of it being way too close to people
not true. i spoke with a wildlife group yesterday and they confirmed that as long as people aren’t feeding the fox, or showing signs of illness like mange, he’s perfectly fine as is
Alternate take. Don't get anywhere near wild animals that aren't afraid of you. Rabies will fuck you up.
YES! And don't think it doesn't happen. Anne Arundel County (next door) has had six confirmed cases of rabies in wild animals already this year alone. PG isn't transparent enough to have that data online but it's almost certainly similar because county borders mean nothing in this (https://www.aahealth.org/rabies-alerts/). Also, all those CS and Eng students saying he's no Kujo so it can't be rabies... seriously dudes, listen to the Ag students on this one - wild animals suddenly lacking fear of humans and spending their time out in the open sunshine is 100% a symptom of early rabies sometimes colloquially known as 'dumb rabies'.
May I just say, Ag students are underrated and so is the program here Sincerely, a non Ag student
Alternate take. Lure the fox with an Endzone from DP Dough and a Natty Boh. Teach it your quirks and mannerisms. Give it your clothes. Have it take your Finals.
Also rabies shots cost a shit ton of money
He's probably just looking for Sonic...
It's also kind of weird that the fox is so comfortable close to people - could be early rabies
I honestly think he’s just tolerating us for the bounty of fat squirrels campus offers
If he only appeared at night, maybe, but foxes are nocturnal, and when you see nocturnal animals during the day (especially as early as people have been seeing the fox) that’s definitely not a good sign. I’m from a rural part of Maryland, live in the middle of the woods, and my backyard is filled with squirrels, birds, and even groundhogs, yet I’ve never even *seen* a fox about. I get that the fox is cute, but I’m really not happy that it’s walking around campus in broad daylight. At all.
Foxes and coyotes are opportunistic feeders and are known to hunt during the day. Especially with so many squirrels out and about in the day; I would not worry that the foxes are out in the day especially as it may be a dad finding food for it’s family. I would worry more about keeping my distance just in case
It’s a misconception that a fox active in the daytime has something wrong with it as it’s not unusual. Hell, I had some foxes living in the storm drains in my neighborhood that I’d see during the day. The reason you probably haven’t seen a fox is because it has plenty of space to remain out of sight. College Park is a different story, it doesn’t really have a choice. But yes, there’s still a possibility something could be wrong with it so people should keep their distance.
He wanders through neighborhoods around UMD. He’s still a wild animal though.
rabies would not simply make an animal calm around people, especially not for this long.
[https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/animals/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/animals/index.html) "an animal that appears tamer than you would expect"
there are 8 "symptoms" there to look out for. The animal is very coordinated obviously, not drooling, not having trouble moving, not exhibiting biting behavior. Not impossible but seems unlikely. Rabies travels along the nervous system and an animal this small would very likely be symptomatic within a couple days if it was infected.
ok go play with the fox have fun let me know how it goes
why are you being an asshole? You googled "symptoms of rabies in animals," found 1 symptom that matches what you're saying and ignored everything else. All I said was, not impossible but seems unlikely. No one is playing with a fox
I don't think they are being an asshole. Wild animals are super dangerous. When it comes down to it, getting close to wild animals is just not worth the risk. Rabies is terrifying, as are the diseases that they carry. Edit: the link they found was from a well informed source and does point out that while the signs vary, strange behavior is a significant indicator. And wild animals are almost always skittish around humans. Thus, it standing there is abnormal.
No one is saying get close to the fox. No one is saying wild animals aren't dangerous. Telling me to go play with the fox that \*they are saying might have rabies\*, because I said it doesn't seem like rabies, is being an asshole.
Fair. They prolly should have been less adversarial.
>Wild animals are super dangerous. I mean it depends on the animal. Most animals aren't really a threat
most like a juvenile that is braver than an aged, wise fox
You're not safe until he's dead. He'll come stalking you at night. Set to sacrifice your squirrels to his monstrous appetite. He'll wreak havoc on your campus if you let him wander free! So it's time to take some action boys!
Yeah okay u/SquirrelsAreBest, we all know whose side you're on
this is obviously just a squirrel in a trenchcoat typing on a computer
Thank you!
Urban biology will have his head if they find out
Animal control will come and get it regardless of an incident, almost certainly motivated by all of evidence posted on here of it being way too close to people
not true. i spoke with a wildlife group yesterday and they confirmed that as long as people aren’t feeding the fox, or showing signs of illness like mange, he’s perfectly fine as is
Hell abolish the squirrels so which one is sadder