In other, non-corona virus concerns, rabbit hemorrhagic disease Virus type (RHDV) reemerged in New Mexico in March and has spread to Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, California and Mexico. RHDV poses a fatal threat to pet rabbits, as well as wild animals.
To be safe, rabbits, like people, need to be isolated. There are also other precautions to take because the virus can survive for so long. But the biggest risk to rabbits is if they are outside or they have any outdoor playtime” – Anne Martin, PhD, House Rabbit Society’s executive director.
Source: New York Times, May 18, 2020. Link. RHDV is both highly infectious, and extraordinarily sturdy. According to the federal National Wildlife Health Center, it can survive several months in dry conditions, lives through freezing and can be spread by rabbits, their pelts or their meat, or anything that has come in contact with them, including insects. Often, rabbits simply drop dead.
Also see: Deadly rabbit virus threatens pet rabbits across country, House Rabbit Society, May 18, 2020. Link.
NOTE: Martin shared this with AHD: If a pet rabbit is sick or dies suddenly, people should contact their veterinarian.
If a dead wild rabbit is sighted, it is important that people do not make contact and call their state Fish & Wildlife department. In California, contact the local California Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health branch. She shared an article from CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife < link >.
INSIGHTS: Rabbits were popular this year at Easter, as well as being a common 4-H and county fair project for youth. Share this information with local media, in newsletters and social media. Also, raptors, owls, foxes and coyotes partially dependent on rabbits in their diets will likely become a larger threat to backyard poultry and pets as rabbit populations are diminished.