Bethel police warn residents not to shoot suspected rabid animals in the head

A head shot can ruin the only sample that proves whether an animal had rabies. Bethel police are warning residents not to shoot suspected rabid animals in the head, because the disease is confirmed through brain tissue.

"Rabies is tested through brain samples and if the animal is shot in the head it may mean the tests may not be performed on the animal," the City of Bethel said in its guidance.

Anyone bitten by an animal should tell a medical provider right away and contact the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Office of Environmental Health. Police also want reports of dogs or cats showing drooling, an odd gait or sudden mean behavior. Residents are urged to keep pets current on rabies vaccines and to stay away from wildlife acting strangely.

The warning follows two confirmed cases. The city reported Feb. 18 that the remains of two foxes in Bethel tested positive for rabies. One of the foxes had attacked a chained dog before police shot it.

The Alaska Department of Health has reported increased terrestrial rabies activity since early 2026 in enzootic areas, including the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Brian Berube, testifying before a U.S. House subcommittee in June, said Alaska's outbreaks tend to arrive later in winter, when foxes move closer to villages.

The fox season is not over. Neither is the risk.