QUEENSBURY, N.Y.- A fisher that bit three people and attacked a fourth at Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve had rabies, said Warren County officials.

After two visitors were bitten Wednesday, a warning was sent out for visitors to be on the lookout for a fisher or similar creature attacking unprovoked. Both visitors bitten had been walking on trails at the preserve, one of which was with their dogs.

During a search for the fisher Wednesday afternoon conducted by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), a person helping with the search was also bitten. Once found, the fisher was killed and tested for rabies at the NYS Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory.

“Rabies is a deadly disease, and we need to err on the side of caution when it comes to potential human exposures to rabid animals,” said Warren County Department of Health Services Ginelle Jones.

Warren County is cautioning visitors to make sure their pet’s vaccinations are up to date before they visit. They are also encouraging recent visitors to call their veterinarian to schedule a booster shot for any pets that had contact with wild animals in that area.

“It appears this fisher was very aggressive in its last hours, and we are concerned that people or pets may have had contact with it and not realized the gravity of the situation,” Jones said. “They should call us to make sure that medical intervention is pursued if needed.”

This is the only documented positive case of rabies in Warren County for 2023, said officials. Warren County Public Health can be reached at (518) 761-6580.