Previously unbeknownst to me, there's a virus going around bunnyland (no, not the Playboy Mansion) as well.
A lethal virus that affects both domestic and wild rabbits has been discovered in California for the first time, wildlife officials in the Golden State announced this week.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), in a statement on Wednesday, said a case of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 2, or RHDV2, has been confirmed in a black-tailed jackrabbit carcass found near Palm Springs in early May.
Wildlife experts are now concerned the virus could “significantly impact wild rabbit populations,” namely those already considered at risk, such as the endangered riparian brush rabbit “and those with limited distribution in the state, such as the pygmy rabbit,” the wildlife department said.
However, note that this isn't a new virus...... only new to California:
Cases of the lethal virus have also been confirmed in both domestic and wild rabbits in other states such as New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, as per wildlife officials.
(https://www.foxnews.com/health/lethal-rabbit-virus-discovered-in-california-for-first-time)
From an earlier story on this:
Testing in New Mexico followed reports of die-offs among wild rabbits in southern and eastern parts of the state. People called local game wardens to report seeing large numbers of dead rabbits, said Dr. Kerry Mower, a wildlife disease specialist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
One person on horseback came across so many bodies, the whole area was filled with the odor of dead animals, Mower said. He didn't know how many rabbits were found dead in each instance, but he said, "It's going to add up to tens of thousands across the landscape."
(https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=9597414)
Yikes - not good at all!
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt
A lethal virus that affects both domestic and wild rabbits has been discovered in California for the first time, wildlife officials in the Golden State announced this week.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), in a statement on Wednesday, said a case of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 2, or RHDV2, has been confirmed in a black-tailed jackrabbit carcass found near Palm Springs in early May.
Wildlife experts are now concerned the virus could “significantly impact wild rabbit populations,” namely those already considered at risk, such as the endangered riparian brush rabbit “and those with limited distribution in the state, such as the pygmy rabbit,” the wildlife department said.
However, note that this isn't a new virus...... only new to California:
Cases of the lethal virus have also been confirmed in both domestic and wild rabbits in other states such as New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, as per wildlife officials.
(https://www.foxnews.com/health/lethal-rabbit-virus-discovered-in-california-for-first-time)
From an earlier story on this:
Testing in New Mexico followed reports of die-offs among wild rabbits in southern and eastern parts of the state. People called local game wardens to report seeing large numbers of dead rabbits, said Dr. Kerry Mower, a wildlife disease specialist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
One person on horseback came across so many bodies, the whole area was filled with the odor of dead animals, Mower said. He didn't know how many rabbits were found dead in each instance, but he said, "It's going to add up to tens of thousands across the landscape."
(https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=9597414)
Yikes - not good at all!
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt