Baltimore warns Roland Park residents after rabid foxes found near homes

Baltimore health officials warned Roland Park residents after two foxes tested positive for rabies near homes and parkland, including one animal that had direct contact with people. The foxes were found near Overhill Road and Meadow Lane and in the 4400 block of Linkwood Road, both bordering Stoney Run Park, and Baltimore City Animal Control said as many as five more foxes may still be in the same den area.

City officials said the fox from the 4400 block of Linkwood Road was the one tied to human exposure, and after initial interviews they identified another possible human exposure connected to that animal. The Baltimore City Health Department canvassed the area the evening of June 9, 2026, after the captures. Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Taylor said, "We take any rabies exposure seriously."

Residents who handled a fox in Roland Park, or who think a pet may have come into contact with one, were told to call 410-396-4436 during business hours or 410-396-3100 after hours and on weekends. The city also urged neighbors near Stoney Run Park to check pets for bite wounds or other suspicious injuries and to get veterinary care right away if anything looks unusual. Officials said pet owners should make sure animals are current on rabies vaccinations, which remain the main protection in a case like this. Dog walkers, families and anyone using the park were told to keep their distance from wildlife and report unusual animal behavior immediately.

The warning carries extra weight because Maryland health officials say rabies is a preventable viral disease transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal and is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. The disease is found most often in wildlife, especially raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats, and domestic animals are also at risk, with cats the most frequently identified rabid domestic animal in the state.

Maryland also reported a transplant-associated human rabies case in 2013, the state's first human rabies case since 1976, underscoring how rare but dangerous exposure can be. In Roland Park, the immediate concern is the cluster of foxes moving through a dense residential area, close enough to homes, dog walks and the edge of Stoney Run Park to make quick reporting and prompt medical or veterinary care essential.