Bubonic Plague found in SoCal Squirrel

[ManCalledHorse]

Yes, check out this article from the San Diego Union Tribune. Dated May of 2013! Mount Palomar in Cleveland National Forrest. So if a Squirrel gets it, then does that mean rabbits can get it too? Since fleas are the vectors of the plague, does that mean deer can contract it too?

Article:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/May/10/plague-bubonic-saqurrel-palomar/

 

[Rob P.]

Plague is reported every year. So far, it hasn't approached "black death" levels in the last couple of centuries. Rabies is a bigger hazard IMO.

 

[CAtrailrider]

I believe squirrel hunting isn't allowed south of Kern anyways for plague reasons

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[ManCalledHorse]

I wonder how or if this will impact hunting. The fleas are the vectors. So, does that mean rabbits, deer and other ground bound animals can contract the disease as well? I read an article dated about a year ago from Riverside County. Does that mean its traveling south?

 

[Orygun]

It is allowed for political reasons. Rodent fleas carry it. Yes, bunnies can carry the fleas as well. As can coyotes. Most CA counties trap squirrels to test for plague. Since it doesn't ever really go away some squirrels will almost always have it. And it is all over the West. It just crops up on some places more often than others. Wrightwood and the campgrounds in the Angeles NF for example. When they fond it in a campground or park they usually go in and use an insecticide dust in the burrows. We haven't had any serious outbreaks in a long time because of the monitoring.

Stay out of the immediate area where they find it if you are chasing rabbits. That is one reason I use gloves and skin my bunnies where I shoot them so I don't bring fleas back with me.

 

[ckhb]

I don't think there is anything to be alarmed about or that the disease is necessarily moving south. There are a few cases of infection in California per year if you take a look at the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/plague/transmission/ .
I have never heard of deer carrying plague but dogs can also be infected if they are around those infected rodents. I think the best protection is just using gloves and precaution when handling any wild animal, not just rodents. Interestingly there is some debate to whether it was Y.pestis which caused the original plague in the 1300s since some areas where the plague spread fleas do not survive. Incubation period has been reported to be longer back in the 1300s outbreaks than modern Y.pestis confirmed plagues which would allow people to travel further and infect more people. Just some interesting tidbits but just be careful with that you are picking up and you will be fine.

 

[Common Sense]

I believe squirrel hunting isn't allowed south of Kern anyways for plague reasons

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Here in D8, the only ones who normally get the plague are ground squirrels and chipmunks. Don't know why tree squirrels or other critters seldom get it???????????????