GLEN ROCK— What brings a town together? Sometimes it's a big high school football game against a rival. Maybe a cleanup in a local park.

In Glen Rock, it was a sick animal: specifically, a fox suffering from a horrible case of mange.

It started after numerous Glen Rock residents reported seeing a sickly fox over the past few weeks. Marissa Olsen, an animal activist who has lived in Glen Rock for seven years, heard about the animal and couldn't sit idly by.

Olsen posted about the fox in the "Glen Rockers" Facebook group, asking for help to locate it. Soon, the comment section was flooded with people who said they were "in," or that they had spotted it in their neighborhood.

She says at least 75 people responded offering to help. A Facebook Messenger group was created.

"I really had no idea people were this dedicated and devoted," Olsen said. "It's really heartwarming."

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Mange is a skin infection caused by parasitic mites that burrow under the skin and multiply. It can also plague coyotes, bears, dogs and even humans.

There are two types that can affect foxes, demodectic and sarcoptic, the latter being contagious. If untreated, mange can kill the fox. A fox with sarcoptic mange can easily infect other animals.

Olsen is no stranger to mange. She has rescued dogs, and in one case she contracted mange. That's why she and others sprang into action.

"I felt a lot of sympathy for this animal," she said.

The plan was simple: Find out where the fox eats, and attempt to medicate it when it went to feed.

Veterinarian Dennis Sepulveda heard about the efforts and offered to chip in. Sepulveda, of the Veterinary Wellness Center of Glen Rock, donated medicine.

"If we don't treat the mange," Sepulveda said, "it can be fatal."

When foxes contract mange, they become desperate and much more likely to approach humans, according to Dolores Garbowski, a wildlife rehabilitator for the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.

"They are seeking out help," Garbowski said.

Garbowski has treated many foxes with mange. She typically uses ivermectin, a treatment to fight parasites that is administered daily and can take five to six weeks to cure mange. However, that requires capturing the animal to make sure the regimen is followed.

Olsen used a different medication, donated by Sepulveda, called Bravecto, or fluralaner, which is an insecticide administered orally.

On Tuesday, members of the Glen Rock group found the mangy fox's feeding spot and were able to administer the Bravecto, which they hope will cure the fox.

It is possible that there are multiple foxes in the area infected with mange, since sightings around Glen Rock have been so frequent. If that is the case, the group will continue to monitor the area for foxes infected with mange.

"People power," Olsen said. "Get out there on foot."

Olsen also hopes that they will be able to obtain surveillance cameras to better track the foxes.

Many of the people that have come together to help Glen Rock's foxes have not actually met in person, but have united behind the cause.

"Glen Rock is a very united town," Sepulveda said.

"It's really lovely to see everyone coming together," Olsen said.

If you see a fox with mange

Garbowski says that anyone can help a fox with mange. If one comes to your backyard constantly, you can help it by buying ivermectin, which can be found in stores, typically ones that sell animal feed. She said it's not harmful to other wildlife. (Bravecto is by prescription only.)

Once you have it and look up the correct dosage (it can differ depending on the size), mix it in with a meatball and leave it out for the fox to eat. If done daily, it will cure the fox's mange, but it will take a few weeks.

Always exercise caution when dealing with wild animals.