09/29/2026
IF YOU FIND TWO DEAD RABBITS IN THE SAME PLACE, DON’T JUST WALK THEM HOME IN A BAG. YOUR SHOES CAN CARRY WHAT KILLED THEM.
A cottontail can look completely normal one day.
Then be dead the next.
Sometimes there is almost no warning.
Sometimes there is blood around the nose or mouth.
Sometimes several rabbits are found dead within the same small area over only a few days.
And that pattern matters.
One possible cause is Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 — RHDV2, an extremely contagious virus that infects rabbits, hares and related species.
This is not an old theoretical threat.
California wildlife officials list a September 2026 detection in wild rabbits in Santa Barbara County, adding another county to the disease’s western U.S. footprint. CDFW
The virus attacks the body fast.
It can damage the liver and disrupt normal blood clotting.
Some rabbits become lethargic.
Some lose coordination.
Some struggle to breathe or convulse.
Some bleed from the nose or mouth.
But others die so rapidly that people never see an obviously sick animal at all. California agricultural officials note that rabbits may simply be found dead without showing visible symptoms first. CDFA
That alone makes RHDV2 frightening.
But the part most people do not realize is what can happen after the rabbit is already dead.
The virus can remain associated with blood, fur, urine, f***s, carcasses, contaminated soil and objects that contacted infected material.
And that means people can accidentally move it.
On boots.
On tools.
On clothing.
On cages or equipment.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife specifically warns that RHDV2 can spread through contaminated soil or materials and can be carried to new areas on shoes and clothing. CDFW
So imagine the completely normal reaction.
Someone finds a dead rabbit beside a trail.
They pick it up to move it.
Their shoe steps where the body was lying.
A shovel touches the carcass.
Then the person drives home.
Nothing looks dangerous.
There is no smell announcing a virus.
No visible cloud.
No living animal chasing them.
Yet infectious material can potentially leave with them.
That is why a cluster of dead rabbits is more important than a single strange carcass.
A rabbit can die from trauma, predators, vehicles and many other causes.
But wildlife agencies specifically ask people to report situations where two or more wild rabbits are found sick or dead in the same area over a short period.
That pattern can signal a disease event worth investigating. CDFW
And RHDV2 can be devastating once it gets into a susceptible population.
Penn State Extension describes mortality that can reach around 80% in some outbreaks, while other wildlife agencies report even higher fatality estimates under some conditions. Penn State Extension
There is one important piece of reassurance:
RHDV2 is not considered a human disease.
You are not going to “catch rabbit hemorrhagic disease” from the rabbit.
Dogs, cats and other non-lagomorph pets are not the target species either.
The concern is different.
A person, scavenger or object can potentially become a mechanical transporter, moving contaminated material from one place to another and exposing more rabbits. CDFW
That makes the response surprisingly simple.
If you encounter multiple dead wild rabbits without an obvious cause:
do not handle them bare-handed.
Do not move them from place to place unnecessarily.
Keep domestic rabbits away.
Report the cluster to the state wildlife agency.
If a carcass absolutely must be handled, follow the agency’s disposal and disinfection guidance rather than treating it like ordinary yard waste.
California wildlife officials recommend disposable gloves or a shovel when necessary and disinfection of footwear and equipment before leaving an affected location. CDFW
The most unsettling part of RHDV2 is not what a sick rabbit looks like.
Sometimes there is almost nothing to see.
It is the speed.
One rabbit.
Then another.
Then another.
And after the animals are gone, the danger to other rabbits may still be sitting invisibly in the place where they died.
The second dead rabbit is the warning.
And the virus does not need legs of its own to leave with you.
Sources
California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Disease and Mortality Monitoring. Current wildlife surveillance information, including the September 2026 Santa Barbara County RHDV2 detection, transmission routes, reporting guidance and biosecurity recommendations. CDFW
California Department of Food and Agriculture — Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease. Describes RHDV2 as extremely contagious and lists sudden death, bleeding, seizures and respiratory distress among possible presentations. CDFA
Penn State Extension — Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus in Pennsylvania. Explains rapid disease progression, liver damage, hemorrhage and potentially very high mortality. Penn State Extension
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease. Documents continuing RHDV2 circulation in wild U.S. lagomorph populations and indirect environmental transmission.
