Myxomatosis alarm: Emsland loses 90% of the brown hares!

Myxomatosis alarm: Emsland loses 90% of the brown hares!

Alarm mood in Lower Saxony! The dreaded viral disease myxomatosis is spreading rapidly among brown hares, and the numbers are frightening. In some areas of Emsland, up to 90 percent of the rabbit population has already fallen victim to the virus. While no cases are reported in other regions, the situation is a big mystery for hunters and area owners. The Lower Saxony State Hunting Association is now working intensively with the Friedrich Loeffler Institute for Animal Diseases to better understand the infection chains and stop the spread of the virus.

Myxomatosis: A Deadly Enemy

Myxomatosis, caused by the myxoma virus, was previously known primarily in wild rabbits. But since 2018, a dangerous variant has also emerged that is now threatening the brown hares. The first case in Germany was registered in North Rhine-Westphalia in August. Transmission occurs mainly through mosquitoes that are active in the warm season. People who come into contact with infected animals can develop severe conjunctivitis, but the infection is not life-threatening for them.

The symptoms of infected brown hares are frightening: patchy patches of skin, sticky eyes and a loss of the flight reflex mean that the animals hardly eat and often die in agony. Anyone who sees a sick rabbit should under no circumstances touch it, but rather inform the responsible district manager immediately. The situation is so serious that some hunting areas are suspending driven hunts in order to spare the already weakened animals additional stress.

A glimmer of hope could be a cold spell that reduces mosquito activity and thus curbs the spread of the virus. But the state hunters are skeptical as to whether the brown hare population will recover soon, as the number of threatened animals has recently risen sharply. The situation remains tense and requires urgent measures!