Rabies is caused by a virus spread in the saliva of infected animals. All warm-blooded mammals can be infected. In Alaska, rabies occurs most often in arctic fox and red fox from the North coast, West coast and Alaska Peninsula. Rabies has also been found in dogs, red foxes, wolves, caribou, and polar bears.
Humans can also get rabies.
Rabid animals often lose their fear of humans and may become vicious and attack for no reason. Rabid animals may appear weak or paralyzed. They also sometimes chew rocks, dog chains, and other non-food items. You can get rabies if you are bitten or licked by an infected animal or if saliva from an infected animal comes into contact with your skin, eyes, nose, lips, cuts or scratches. Rabies can be fatal for humans and signs may be undetectable for weeks or months.