Rabbit Virus Could Spread to Wyoming

Wyoming residents and visitors are being asked to keep a lookout for dead rabbits in residential yards, rural property and other outdoor areas. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is collecting wild rabbit carcasses for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus2 testing, known as RHDV2. While not found in Wyoming yet, the disease has been identified in neighboring Utah and Colorado. Testing rabbits is key to monitoring the disease spread. Rabbits and hares are susceptible, including game and nongame species like cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits and potentially, pygmy rabbits. While domestic rabbits are at risk; other domestic pets and livestock are not. RHDV2 also does not pose a threat to humans, but rabbits carry other diseases which can, like tularemia and plague. Consequently, the public should not to touch or pick up any dead wild rabbits.

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