Alabama Issues Rabies Alert After 1 Fox Tests Positive in Billingsley

Q: What specific abnormal behaviors did the Autauga County fox display that alerted the owner to the deadly rabies threat?

The fox was reported because it was **acting abnormally and having difficulty moving**. That is the specific behavior described by Alabama public health officials and repeated in the related reports. The owner noticed the fox was not moving normally and appeared impaired, which was unusual enough to prompt a report to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Officials did not publicly provide more detailed symptoms beyond those two warning signs. But in this case, the combination of **strange behavior** and **trouble with movement** was what alerted the property owner to a possible rabies threat.

2 articles · Updated · AL.com · Aug 18

Alabama health officials said a fox found late last week on private property in Billingsley tested positive for rabies, prompting a statewide prevention alert and targeted precautions in Autauga County.
The property owner spotted the fox acting abnormally and struggling to move, then followed state instructions to have it euthanized and sent to the public health lab for testing.
No human exposure was reported, but 2 vaccinated dogs may have been exposed, and all animals on the property are receiving rabies booster shots.
ADPH urged residents to keep pets confined, avoid leaving food outdoors, stay away from strangely behaving animals, and report any bites or other exposures to a medical provider or the agency.
State law requires dogs, cats and ferrets aged 12 weeks and older to be current on rabies vaccination; officials said vaccination lowers infection risk for both animals and their owners.