A safety advisory is in effect at Staten Island's Mount Loretto Unique Area due to the presence of a fox that may be infected with rabies. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued the warning Saturday after a visitor reported being bitten by a fox on Friday.
The advisory covers the 241-acre nature preserve on the south shore of Staten Island and is expected to remain in place through at least Monday. Officials are urging visitors to be vigilant and avoid contact with any animals while in the area.
This incident occurs amid a rise in rabies cases in the city's outer boroughs. Data released by the city indicates that rabid raccoons have led to 20 rabies cases across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island this year, a pace 57% faster than the previous year. By late August, Brooklyn had recorded five cases, Queens had six, and Staten Island had nine, matching the total for all of 2025.
Staten Island has documented 26 confirmed rabies cases since 2022, second only to Queens, which has reported 39 cases, according to the NYC Health Department. Rabies is a fatal disease typically transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, commonly affecting animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes.
Experts note that rabies is treatable if caught early. Post-exposure treatment involves an initial dose of human rabies immune globulin, followed by four doses of the rabies vaccine over two weeks. If left untreated and symptoms develop, the disease is almost always fatal.
Individuals who observe foxes exhibiting unusual behavior in the Mount Loretto area are advised to report the sightings to the NYSDEC Dispatch at 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3267).