Health department urges pet vaccinations after fox tests positive for rabies

SANTA FE – A fox in McKinley County tested positive for rabies – the eighth animal rabies case in the state in 2026.

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports the fox, which had no known interaction with humans, was euthanized.

“It’s important to prevent rabies, which is deadly, and state law requires all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies,” said Dr. Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian for NMDOH. “Unvaccinated pets exposed to rabies must be euthanized or isolated for four months to prevent human exposure.”

In New Mexico, rabies is most often found in wildlife such as foxes, skunks, bobcats and bats. The state confirmed 13 rabid animals in 2025, and 12 in 2024. While bats are the animal most commonly found with rabies in New Mexico, all mammals are susceptible. Rabid wild animals may show no fear of people and may be aggressive, or they may be quiet and appear tame.

If you see a sick wild animal, or a wild animal acting abnormally, report it to your local animal control officer or the New Mexico Department of Wildlife at (888) 248-6866.

NMDOH recommends the following to prevent rabies:

• Keep your pets up to date on vaccinations and ensure they wear tags on their collar confirming their vaccination status. 
• If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild animal, call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.  
• Avoid wild or unfamiliar animals. Do not attempt to feed them. Don’t approach or touch wild animals (alive or dead). Teach this important message to your children and keep a close eye on your kids around unfamiliar animals.  
• In the event of an animal bite or exposure to saliva, wash the affected area immediately and thoroughly with soap and water, and seek medical attention promptly. 
• People who have direct contact with a bat, who wake to find a bat in their room or who cannot reliably report whether contact with a bat occurred should receive a rabies vaccination.

Report any exposure or bite to your local animal control and call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (833 796-8773). You can also text questions to 66364 (NMDOH).

For more info about rabies visit: https://nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/rab/.

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El Departamento de Salud pide vacunar a las mascotas tras detectarse un caso de rabia en un zorro