I forgot to include the fact that rabies is endemic in the arctic fox populations in Alaska. Up to 85% of them carry the virus. It does not manifest itself unless they get stressed from starvation or other illnesses.
Back in the 1980’s when I worked in the North Slope Oil Patch there was a caribou bull that developed rabies. It would run along the Spine Road smashing into the sides of passing vehicles until it was euthanized. The head was sent to the lab in Fairbanks and the diagnosis was confirmed.
My colleague theorized that it probably became ill after being bitten multiple times by rabid foxes. He assured me that this would not happen to a grizzly or polar bear. He hoped.
Interesting. I’ll watch out for Arctic foxes.