Game & Fish monitoring for rabbit disease

Wyoming Game & Fish is asking citizens to keep their eyes peeled for dead rabbits, whether in your yard or on your property or in another outdoor area.

The department is currently monitoring for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHD2V), which was first detected in this state in 2020 and has already been identified in 20 rabbits across eight counties this year.

The disease is highly contagious and is believed to kill between a third and half of wild rabbits that become infected. It has been detected in wild cottontails and jackrabbits but may affect all wild lagomorph species, such as hares, pikas and pygmy rabbits.

It does not impact the health of humans or other species.

The first indication of infection is dead animals.

The rabbit may have a blood-stained nose and mouth due to internal bleeding.

Signs in a living animal tend to be subtle and might include fever, respiratory distress, loss of appetite or abnormalities of the nervous system such as incoordination and convulsions.

“Any rabbit could become infected with the disease, it could be a cottontail living in your yard or the one you see while hiking,” wildlife disease specialist Jessica Jennings-Gaines said. “Please report any dead rabbits you find.”

RHD2V is spread through directed contact with infected rabbits and carcasses and also through contaminated environments. Humans can spread it indirectly by carrying it on clothing or shoes.

The virus is resistant to extreme temperatures and survives in the environment for extended periods.

If you find dead rabbits while recreating, please do not move the carcasses but do report the finding to your local game warden or to the Game & Fish Wildlife Health Lab at 307-745-5865..

Game & Fish asks that you do not handle the dead animals, as rabbit die-offs can also be associated with serious zoonotic diseases such as tularemia and plague, which can be contracted through direct contact or being bitten by infected insects.

RHDV2 has not been detected in Crook County at this time, although incidents have been recorded in Weston and Campbell counties. Multiple reports have also been recorded between Buffalo and Sheridan.