Deadly Virus Threatens Both Domestic And Wild CA Rabbits

CALIFORNIA — While California's human population has been forced to face a deadly coronavirus pandemic over the last year, the Golden State's wild rabbits have also been threatened by a serious disease that uniquely targets them.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, caused by a highly contagious virus, was first detected in a wild black-tailed jackrabbit found in Palm Springs on May 11, 2020. It was one of 10 rabbits that were found dead and later tested positive for the virus, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Since then, the disease has been confirmed in six Southern California counties — Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego. See an interactive map here. The state also mandated last year that no rabbit, hare or equipment used to process rabbits can enter California from states or countries where the disease has been diagnosed within the prior year.

While cases are relatively low in the state, there isn't an authorized vaccine for the disease in the U.S. What's more, the virus kills about 90 percent of infected rabbits, according to the state. This could threaten and alter entire ecosystems if species of prey like jackrabbit start dying off, the Desert Sun reported.

"This is pretty serious," Hayley Lanier, assistant curator for mammals at the Sam Noble Museum in Oklahoma and co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's lagomorph specialist group, told the Desert Sun. "This is a disease that has completely decimated rabbit populations in Spain."

The virus, which has a rapid onset, is transmitted between rabbits through contact or contaminated food or water, according to wildlife officials.

Humans can also inadvertently contribute to the spread, the state said, which is why officials are asking hikers in California to wash clothing and disinfect footwear or equipment before traveling to nature areas or interacting with domestic rabbits. Hunters are also urged to wear gloves while field dressing rabbits, bury any remains onsite deep enough to prevent scavenging and wash their hands when finished.

Wildlife officials are also asking anyone who comes across multiple dead or sick rabbits to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Any such sighting can be reported online here or by calling the CDFW Wildlife Investigations Lab at 916-358-2790.

Infected rabbits, jackrabbit or hairs will suffer swelling, internal bleeding and liver damage, officials said. Rabbits that succumb to the disease may have blood on their nose or mouth.

For those with pet bunnies and rabbits at home, the news can be worrying, but there are several steps you can take to protect your pets.

The state has offered the following tips:

• Always wash your hands before and after handling your rabbit.
• Use separate footwear for outside and inside the rabbit's living space, or use a disinfectant footbath, to avoid tracking contamination on your shoes.
• Do not handle any rabbits that are not your own. If you do, then wash your hands and change clothes and shoes before handling your rabbits.
• House rabbits off the ground.
• Do not feed plants or forage gathered outside.
• Do not allow rabbits to share toys and enrichment objects.
• Clean and disinfect caging, enclosures, harnesses, and other equipment between different rabbits with 10% bleach water, 1% Virkon-S, or other product recommended by your veterinarian.
• Ensure wild rabbits do not come near your rabbit.
• Maintain proper fencing so wild rabbits cannot enter your yard, rabbit housing, or feed storage area.
• Do not allow other people who own rabbits to handle your rabbit(s)
• Watch that dogs, cats, birds and scavengers do not bring rabbit carcasses onto your property; promptly dispose of and disinfect.
• Consult your private veterinarian if your rabbit becomes ill.