08/28/2024
Heads up! The Wildlife Medical Clinic has noticed an uptick of “rabbit fever” in our local population of Eastern Cottontails. Since April, the WMC has had 4 rabbits test positive for Francisella tularensis, the bacteria that causes tularemia. This is a highly infectious disease that can infect wildlife and people alike via tick/deer fly bites, inhalation of aerosols, and skin contact with infected animals. It has not been seen to jump from person to person, only from animals to people.
Rabbits, rodents, and cats can be infected and transmit this disease, which can also survive for weeks in water and soil. Make sure to keep pets away from injured or dead wildlife and handle any sick wildlife with appropriate protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, and an N-95 face mask if you have one). Doing a quick sweep of the yard for any dead animals before you start up the mower will also decrease the risk of potential aerosols. Tularemia can cause a host of symptoms, including pneumonia and even death, if not treated quickly with the right antibiotics.
Be careful out there and remember the WMC is always here to lend a hand with sick and injured wildlife! For more information about tularemia, check out the following link, https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/faq.asp.
