Oregon rabbit hemorrhagic disease

[kwyeewyk]

New detections of deadly virus found in Oregon wild rabbits: Hunters, others asked to take precautions to not spread disease

www.dfw.state.or.us

 

[Irrelevant]

I find it interesting that they say it doesn't pose a risk to human health, but then they say do not feed it to people...

 

[Hunting Wife]

I find it interesting that they say it doesn't pose a risk to human health, but then they say do not feed it to people...

I wouldn’t read too much into it. That is basic health and food hygiene 101. Don’t eat things that look sick, are known to have a disease, or you found dead. You will see that recommendation for virtually any disease of wildlife. Just generally not a good idea.

I wonder what we’re going to see in the next decade for our wild rabbit species. This disease is marching across the country at a very rapid clip.

 

[hank4elk]

It went thru here a couple years ago and into AZ,CA. Still tons of cottontails here. Hutches empty or now coops.

 

[406LIFE]

The falconry world is watching this extremely close. Lagomorphs are large part of quarry for birds like Harris', goshawks, redtails, Ferruginous, and eagles. Montana has had a couple of cases last year. It has been working its way north for a handful of years now. The great thing about rabbits is that they breed like rabbits. Dieoffs will be replaced within a few generations and the new stock will have immunity to the virus. This cycle happens with a regular frequency. No transmission to raptors or humans have been reported, but rabbit-raptor-rabbit is possible from residual on the feet of birds.