If you think a fox has rabies in the Myrtle Beach area, do this before calling 911
.jpg "A Pawleys Island fox looks over the beach from the top of a dune on the North end of Pawleys Island. Courtesy Tanya Ackerman / Chasing the Light")
If you see a fox during the day in the Myrtle Beach area, think twice before calling the police, officials said.
Dispatchers with the North Myrtle Beach Police Department receive 10-15 calls a day about foxes in the area, according to a Wednesday Facebook post.
Many callers asked to have a fox removed because they were worried seeing it during the day meant it had rabies, said Patrick Wilkinson, spokesperson for the North Myrtle Beach Police Department.
“Healthy foxes generally are not dangerous to humans,” a S.C. Department of Natural Resources fact-sheet states. They are more likely to be a nuisance by digging burrows in grass or hunting animals like chickens or ducks. Both red and gray foxes live in South Carolina and both species can live in urban areas, according to SCDNR.
While one person was exposed to a rabid fox in Florence County last week, the number of rabid foxes has significantly decreased in the last 60 years. DHEC has not reported a fox with rabies in Horry County this year. In South Carolina, foxes are significantly less likely to have rabies than raccoons or skunks.
While people call the police department asking to move foxes, it is illegal to relocate a fox in South Carolina. Wilkinson said. “The more calls we have about foxes coming in, that’s jamming up the line for anybody that has an emergency,” he said. “Foxes are beautiful animals. Enjoy the luxury of being here and being able to observe them in the wild.”
Here is what to do if you see a fox in the Myrtle Beach area.
Stay far away from the wild animal and avoid feeding it.
If you see a fox during the day, this does not necessarily mean it is sick. While foxes are usually nocturnal, many are active during the day, especially in late spring and early summer.
Know the signs of rabies in wild animals, including increased drooling, abnormal friendliness or aggression and general sickness. If you find an animal with these symptoms, Wilkinson said to call your local police department or animal control.
Make sure your pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccines.
