EDITOR’S NOTE: The headline and story have been updated after the state environmental officials issued a statement Thursday evening with additional information that partially contradicted the account by county health officials.
A dead rabid fox has been found in the Double Trouble State Park in Ocean County, where county health officials say two people and a dog were recently bitten by a fox, though state officials believe it is not the same fox involved in recent encounters that prompted the closure of the park.
“A deceased juvenile fox was found Tuesday in another part of the park and tested positive for rabies on Thursday,” the state Department of Environmental Protection said Thursday evening. “Based on descriptions provided by visitors, it is not believed to be the same animal involved in Monday’s incidents. In addition, the Park Service and Fish & Wildlife have no information at this time that any visitors were bitten or scratched by fox at the park.”
A spokesman for the Ocean County Department of Health said the rabid fox was found in the area of Pinewald Keswick Road, which runs through the 8,000-acre state park. The county health office said two people and a dog were bitten at the park, though the state DEP said it had no information other than encounters with a potentially rabid fox.
The park was closed for a fourth straight day on Thursday, the state DEP said Thursday.
“NJDEP State Park Service and NJDEP Fish & Wildlife continue to monitor Double Trouble State Park in Ocean County for a potentially rabid fox that was involved in encounters with people and a dog on Monday,” the DEP said in a statement online Thursday evening. “The park remains closed until further notice.”
In addition to the Double Trouble incidents, five children were bitten by another fox suspected of having rabies about 15 miles away in Lakewood.
Two kids were bitten in a Lakewood park in separate incidents while three other children were bitten in a yard. A Lakewood police spokesman said Thursday afternoon that he was not aware of any additional attacks.
That fox is also suspected of having rabies, the county health department spokesman said.
Anyone bitten by a fox — or any wildlife — should get immediate medical attention and notify police and their local health department, authorities said. People should not approach wildlife especially if an animal is demonstrating atypical behavior such as general sickness, being overly aggressive or even appearing friendly and/or tamer.
Most wildlife are skittish around humans. Other signs of an infected animal are heavy drooling, circling or wobbling, a health department spokesman said.
The animals that most commonly carry rabies in the U.S. are raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats.
If people are treated quickly after being exposed, they are extremely unlikely to contract rabies, the state Department of Health said. People who develop symptoms of rabies are likely to die, officials say.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.