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Rabid moose found in Alaska
It’s the first documented case of rabies in a moose on the continent
Biologists say they have documented the first-ever case of rabies in a moose in North America.
The moose (Alces alces) was seen wandering around the town of Teller, Alaska. Witnesses said it appeared injured and was acting oddly.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game euthanized the moose and collected samples. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined the moose had contracted a rabies variant carried by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus).
Wildlife officials plan to increase rabies surveillance, but because moose tend to be solitary, they don’t expect an outbreak in the moose population.
Header Image: Wildlife officials don’t believe the appearance of rabies in an Alaskan moose poses a risk to the population. Credit: David Frey
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