State reports 2nd rabid wolf killed near Chandalar Lake

PALMER — Although so far no additional rabies cases have been reported in the Mat-Su Borough, Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced May 2 that a second wolf caught in the Chandalar Lake area north of Fairbanks has tested positive for rabies.

Fish and Game says in a press release that the wolf was caught in a snare March 15 and the trapper described it as “not responding normally, dull and unaware.” Alaska State Virology Laboratory tests confirmed results from Fish and Game that found the wolf to be infected with rabies.

In this instance, the trapper was not exposed to the virus, but his dogs were fed the raw carcass at the camp on the trap line in March. The dogs are current on their rabies shots, but will receive booster shots and be quarantined as directed by state veterinarian, Dr. Robert Gerlach, the state says.

A wildlife veterinarian for Fish and Game also warns against the practice of feeding raw carcasses to pets.

“Pets cannot only become infected, they can then transmit diseases and parasites to their owners — rabies, tularemia and echinococcus being the most serious,” Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen says in the Fish and Game press release.

This is the second instance of a wolf killed in the Chandalar Lake area to test positive for rabies. In April, a trapper shot an abnormally acting wolf that later tested positive for rabies — after the carcass was disposed of in the woods in the Palmer area.

During the skinning process, however, a person sustained a cut to the hands and was treated for rabies exposure.

According to state records, this year is the first time rabies has been diagnosed south of the Brooks Range.

“Rabies is always present in foxes in the enzootic western and northern coastal portions of Alaska, but we’re still trying to get a clearer picture of the current situation, especially in wolves in the Chandalar Lake area,” Beckmen said. “We’d really like to hear from the people who have seen wolves or other wildlife acting abnormally in that area. Abnormal behavior can also be caused by diseases other than rabies, such as distemper, so a test of brain tissue is required for a definitive diagnosis of the disease.”

People are asked to report wildlife acting abnormally, especially wolves, wolverines or foxes to the nearest Fish and Game office, and by sending email to dfg.dwc.vet@alaska.gov.

Animals with rabies might be fearless in approaching people, attack inanimate objects or be unable to run/move normally.

Beckmen said she is still collecting samples from heads brought to the Fairbanks office of any wolves, wolverines, foxes or coyotes taken in the Chandalar Lakes or Forty-Mile country.

“This incident emphasizes that there is a risk to both people and domestic pets through direct contact with rabid wildlife,” Gerlach said. “The greater threat to public health is from our domestic pets that can bring rabies into homes and expose our family members and friends. The best protection is to make sure all your pets’ rabies vaccinations are current.”

Fish and Game offers these guidelines for trappers and hunters:

• Wear gloves when skinning animals.

• Wash any wounds thoroughly with soap and water.

• Avoid cutting into the brain and spinal cord as much as possible.

• Wash knives with soap and water immediately after severing the head.

Injuries sustained while skinning an animal should be reported to a health care provider and the animal saved for possible rabies testing to determine if post exposure rabies treatment is needed.

Further, Fish and Game asks hunters to help minimize the spread of rabies by disposing of carcasses in the areas animals are taken.

Contact managing editor Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.