Foxes, coyotes, domestic dogs, and other canids are the definitive hosts for the adult stage of the parasite. Cats may also be involved. The head of the tapeworm attaches to the intestinal mucosa by hooks and suckers. It then produces hundreds of microscopic eggs, which are dispersed through the feces.
Humans can become an aberrant intermediate host by accidentally ingesting eggs of E. multilocularis when handling infected animals or consuming contaminated food, vegetable, and water.
☞ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinococcosis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinococcus_multilocularis
Eh live a little, pet a cute little fox then wash your hands. If it bites you get a rabies shot. Worth it either way.
It’s a wild animal, look but don’t touch. It’s not “living a little” it’s not scaring the shit out of it until it bites you in terror.
Still gonna do it.