Four more infected animals reported in just 72 hours

Jeff Hager

Hello! I cover Harford and Cecil counties for WMAR-2 News. If you have a story idea to share, please email me at [email protected].

EDGEWOOD, Md. —  A fox infected with rabies was found in the Edgewood community along Perry Avenue, raising alarm among residents and pet owners who say they have noticed foxes behaving strangely in the area.

Harford County has now confirmed 28 animals with rabies this year — a number that leads the state — including five rabid foxes. That matches the total number of rabid animals the county recorded all of last year.

Kim Moericke, who lives along Perry Avenue where the infected fox was found, said the discovery caught her off guard despite frequent fox sightings in the area.

"Surprised that it was infected, but we see foxes around here all the time. This is all water along here. It runs up to an estuary down a couple of blocks," Moericke said.

Resident Cindy Poist said she recently had a close encounter with a fox that approached her pet in her backyard — behavior she found alarming.

"It alarmed me and I hurried up and ran down the steps and even after I went to the door and opened the door, he didn't run right away," Poist said. "He stopped and looked at me."