Alaska conservationists have euthanized a moose infected with arctic fox rabies, the first recorded case in North America. Before that, all other moose infections with this type of rabies were confined to Europe.

The animal was seen “slobbering” and “very aggressive towards humans” in an Alaskan town. He was also bleeding and had patchy fur. After he was euthanized, he tested positive for a variant of arctic fox rabies.

Alaska conservationists believe an infected fox bit the moose and are now expanding surveillance efforts to detect rabies.analyzing all brain samples from wild mammals found dead or euthanized in the past year at refuges in rabies-infested Arctic fox areas.

“That moose was aggressive to humans and got a little too close for comfort.Sara Germain, a Nome-based wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, explained wmtvlocal branch of nbc.

In response to local reports of erratic moose behavior, Germain traveled with additional personnel to Teller, a small coastal community 70 miles northwest of Nome.

A further study of the culled moose revealed a partially healed wound on the chest, believed to be a fox biteKimberlee Beckmen, the Alaskan veterinarian, told reporters.

Beckmen and his colleagues at the Department of Fish and Game said this bite was likely the result of the variant of arctic fox rabies the moose contracted, which was later confirmed through samples tested by the Alaska State Virology Laboratory and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“We will begin testing all mammals native to Northwest Alaska and other parts of the endemic region for fox rabies.Beckmann said.

The variant of the Arctic fox rabies has hit local fox populations in record numbers this year, according to the Department of Fish and Game, and has been circulating throughout the winter among red foxes in Alaska’s Seward Peninsula and Arctic foxes on the north slope.

Alaska state veterinarian Bob Gerlach said moose are very lonely this time of year. meaning the chances of this rabies spreading to infect more moose are slim.

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Alaska conservationists confirmed that the now-dead rabid moose was the first known case of a rabid moose in North America.

Beckmen said moose had previously been tested for rabies in “close” cases in South Dakota, Minnesota and Canada, but the results were negative in each of those cases.

The Alaska Department of Game and Fish has made this known to the public the best way to protect yourself, your pets and your livestock against rabies is to make sure your pets are vaccinated.