All articles tagged with #wildlife disease
Backyard bird feeding is popular in Australia, but it can create hotspots for the H5N1 bird flu, potentially spreading among wild birds, scavengers, and even mammals in the region; experts advise either stopping feeding altogether or taking precautions—feed less to reduce congregation, avoid hand-feeding, clean feeders with domestic bleach, and report sick or dead wildlife to authorities.
UF veterinarians confirmed the first HSV-1 infections in lemurs, with four cases across ring-tailed, black-and-white ruffed, and a Varecia hybrid lemur. All suffered encephalitis and ulcers and died despite treatment. One case may have been linked to a public lemur yoga class, highlighting the risk of human-to-wildlife transmission and the need for stronger biosecurity and minimized direct contact when caring for lemurs. The findings were published in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.
Scientists have identified a clonally transmissible melanoma spreading among brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog and nearby waters across Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Brunswick, making it the fourth known naturally occurring transmissible cancer. The cancer cells move between fish through close contact (especially during spawning) and possibly via contaminated water or sediment. There is no known risk to humans, but the outbreak could affect local catfish populations and ecosystem health as researchers study its distribution and origins.
A Nature study confirms brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog host a transmissible cancer in which cancer cells spread between fish like a parasite. It’s only the fourth documented case of a contagious cancer in the animal kingdom. The tumors appear as black lesions; surveys from 2014–2017 found about 25–33% of the lake’s brown bullhead infected. Transmission mode is not yet known (spawn-related spread suspected), but researchers say it does not appear to pass to other species and poses no threat to human health. Further work is needed to understand spread and population impact.
Idaho Fish and Game reports a surge of sick raccoons in the Pocatello–Chubbuck area, with testing confirming at least one case of canine distemper. The virus is not transmissible to humans but is often fatal for wildlife like raccoons and skunks. Officials urge residents to keep dogs away from raccoons and carcasses, ensure pets are vaccinated, wear gloves when disposing of dead wildlife, and remove food sources that attract wildlife. Not every daylight-wandering raccoon is infected; cases are evaluated individually, and officials expect the trend to subside through summer with no major long-term population impact.
Genomic analyses of brown bullhead melanomas from Lake Memphremagog show a single clonal cancer lineage spreading among fish, marking the first confirmed transmissible cancer in a freshwater fish. Tumour mitochondrial and nuclear DNA are more similar across affected fish than to their hosts, with many shared tumour-specific variants and no associated microbes detected, suggesting cancer cells themselves are the infectious agent. The findings raise questions about origin, transmission mechanisms, and potential ecological impacts on brown bullhead populations.
In St. Paul and the Twin Cities, rabbits infected with Shope papillomavirus develop horn- or tusk-like growths. The non-curable virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks and is most active in warmer months. Officials say the prevalence can wax and wane; the Minnesota DNR notes metro infections without confirming a rise, while the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota has treated seven affected rabbits this year. Domestic rabbits may require veterinary removal of growths.
Several states have reported squirrels with oozing, wart-like lesions caused by squirrel fibromatosis. The condition is not contagious to humans or pets, and most infected squirrels recover within four to eight weeks. Experts advise against handling the animals and suggest removing bird feeders to reduce crowding, as outbreaks peak in spring and summer; while the disease is usually non-severe, rare cases can spread to organs, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Squirrels in several U.S. states have been seen with oozing, wart-like tumors caused by squirrel fibromatosis, a disease linked to Lepripoxvirus. The infections usually don’t hinder survival and often clear in four to eight weeks, though they can spread in crowded groups. The virus isn’t contagious to humans or pets, but experts urge people not to handle affected animals and suggest removing bird feeders to reduce gatherings.
Across several states, residents have spotted squirrels with wart-like, oozing growths, likely caused by squirrel fibromatosis linked to Lepripoxvirus. The tumors usually don't affect the animals’ survival, though in rare cases they can spread to organs. Infections peak in spring and summer. Humans and pets can’t catch it, but experts advise not handling affected squirrels and, to limit spread, consider removing bird feeders.
A lethal rabbit virus (RHDV-2) has been detected in Utah’s wild rabbits in Summit and Tooele counties, prompting the Division of Wildlife Resources to urge hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to handle rabbits and carcasses with precautions; the disease is highly infectious to rabbits and hares but not known to affect humans or livestock, and cases in Utah’s wild populations have been rare since 2022.
Rabbits across several states—including Colorado—are developing dark, tentacle-like growths on their heads due to Shope papillomavirus (SPV), a rabbit-specific infection that has been known since the 1930s. The growths are wart-like and most infected rabbits survive; in severe cases they can progress to squamous cell carcinoma and impair vision or eating. SPV is not known to infect humans, but domestic rabbits can catch it from wild carriers or vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, so pet owners should keep rabbits indoors or in screened enclosures, control pests, avoid contact with wild rabbits, and seek veterinary care if suspicious growths appear. The virus historically aided cancer research and HPV vaccine development, underscoring why this isn’t a human health threat despite the eerie visuals.
Parks Canada crews in Alberta are applying a blend of bacteria in bat caves to slow the spread of white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal infection that wakes hibernating bats, drains their fat reserves, and can wipe out large portions of a colony (up to about 98%). The outbreak has affected caves such as in Jasper National Park, threatening local bat populations, though it poses no risk to humans. The effort aims to prevent local extinction of Alberta’s hibernating bats.
Health officials in San Diego warn that a deadly virus has been detected in crow populations, triggering wildlife and public health advisories. While there are no reported human cases yet, residents should avoid handling dead birds, report carcasses to authorities, and take mosquito-control measures to reduce transmission risk.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease spreading through North American deer populations, with infected animals able to shed prions and transmit before symptoms appear (incubation about 18–24 months). Prions persist in the environment, making containment almost impossible. While there are no confirmed human cases, lab studies show potential transmission to humans, prompting health agencies to advise hunters to test venison and avoid high-risk tissues. By August 2025, CWD has been detected in at least 36 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces, and in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and South Korea. Estimates suggest 7,000–15,000 CWD-infected animals are eaten annually by humans, a figure that could grow about 20% per year in heavily affected areas. Eradication is not feasible; disease may cause population declines, so surveillance and testing are crucial.