In a pack of ten wolves, one wolf behaved atypically and fought with several packmates. This wolf was shot when it approached the author. Within 4 weeks at least six other members of the pack were dead. Rabies was confirmed in the wolf that was shot and in two others that had not decomposed. Most of the wolves infected with rabies had sought or remained at familiar areas in the core area of their territory, which implies that they were not contacting neighboring packs. This was confirmed with an aerial survey. Arctic foxes, experiencing a regionwide rabies epizootic, were suspected vectors.

Abstract-1. Blood properties of valley pocket gophers, Thomomys bottae, and laboratory rats, Ratfus norvegicus, were examined to determine blood buffering capabilities.2. Hematocrit, plasma proteins and inorganic phosphate levels were not significantly different between these species.3. Oxygen capacity of the pocket gophers, 23.1 vol%, was greater than that of the rats, 20.8 ~0 1 % . 4. Bicarbonate concentration of pocket gopher blood, 28.1 mM/l., was significantly greater than that of the rats, 19.8 mM/1.5. The non-carbonic buffering strength as determined from CO, titration curves of whole blood of pocket gophers, -2.67 logpCO,/pH unit, was greater than that of the rats, -1.39 logpCO,/pH,unit. 6.The greater buffering capacity of pocket gopher blood may account for the reduced sensltlvlty of ventilation rate in response to elevated burrow CO, concentrations.