Hare with myxomatosis

[Brock Gray]

Hi everybody, I was woundering if anyone comes across a hare with myxomatosis could they be nice enough to post the details.

Thanx

[Brock Gray]

Forgot to say...I do know of a case recently confirmed.

[Dogghound]

Interesting that you are in the East Riding as I found a Hare there last year which showed all of the symptoms of the the Myxoma virus, however I attributed it to being a severe case of Leporine dysautonomia. I am aware of a record of an Irish brown hare apparently suffering from myxomatosis, and believe very rare records of it have been found. However hares are prone to several similar diseases which all tend to peak around autumn/winter.

[Brock Gray]

This case is from Somerset, or rounds abouts, I think. I first heard it at the Badger Conference in Sheffield some weeks ago. I was on a Fera course last week and asked the lady (coincidently on the same course – small world) who made it, from Secret World I think, if it was definitely confirmed, she said yes.

The hares on the Yorkshire Wolds are doing very well.

[Dogghound]

To be fair the Myxoma virus is never going to have a significant impact of hares as it has had on rabbits as they are far less sociable and dont live in parasite infested burrow (warren) systems, where it can be quickly transferred to each other and lay dormant for periods of time.

Yes the Wolds are somewhat of a stronghold for Brown Hares, you are guaranteed to see one, even on a casual drive through, without making much effort.

[No ticks on me]

Yesterday walked by 2 hares on bottom of north york moors that looked ok but were just sitting in open and 1 deformed & blind. Had to drive around one just sat in the road today.

[Brock Gray]

We were told at the conference if anyone comes across a hare with this condition they could contact Secret World and they would advise. They seemed to think this could be a significant matter of concern for the hare.

They may not live as communally as rabbits do, but this does not necessarily imply they are not at significant risk, presuming they are at risk until determined otherwise may be a little more prudent perhaps.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Brock Gray

They may not live as communally as rabbits do, but this does not necessarily imply they are not at significant risk, presuming they are at risk until determined otherwise may be a little more prudent perhaps.

Why not? myxomatosis is primarily spread through physical interaction. Hares occur at far lower densities than rabbits. They are far less sociable and large numbers only aggregate during pre-breeding/breeding or during the mother rearing her offspring. If myxomatosis was a significant risk to brown hares I am sure more than one or two isolated records would occur. In comparison to Coccidiosis or EBHS mymomatosis, it is hardly worth the effort worrying about its occurrence in hares. It would be better to reduce more serious diseases than speculate on ones which are unlikely to ever become a problem.


Why do you consider hares to be at significant risk from myxomatosis?

[Brock Gray]

I do not think I said I thought them to be at significant risk; just the general tone of the announcement seemed to convey some of concern as did the conversation. It’s a simple request to keep an eye out for such cases, I suppose with a view to determining it this is an isolated incident or more wide spread. I do not think a little prudence in this case would have too much of an effect on the reduction of a more serious disease, but I’ll defiantly watch out for that.

If anything I suppose one would look towards an area where the rabbit population has had a dramatic decline, through disease or extreme weather for example, where there may be an increase in free fleas moving onto Hares. Although I am no expert, just a messenger.

[SheffieldLass]

I have a very tame hare here ... it moved into my garden yesterday and has been around a lot of the time today, munching its way through my veggies. I can get to within 6 feet of it before it moves off. It does see me, but crouches low, nose twitching 19 to the dozen, until I get close, when it finally bounds away. There is no obvious sign of anything wrong with it, but it is just the tameness that makes me wonder if there is something amiss. Either that or it just can't get enough of my leeks (and my other garden plants), and is loath to leave them .... cheeky thing hopped off with a big leek leaf in its mouth, it grabbed it as it went

We do have hares in the vicinity but this is the first time I've had one in my garden. Rabbits yes, a doe sneaks in and keeps making nursery burrows, and manages to secrete them where I don't spot them until the baby bunnies emerge. However of her most recent brood, two died a few days apart in the very same spot, a week or so after they emerged - neither had been attacked, both in seemingly perfect condition. So maybe there is something around that is causing illness in both rabbits and hares but which has no obvious outward appearance.

Anyway I'll be keepiing my eye out for the hare, if only to preserve a few leeks for myself, so will see if its health deteriorates, or if it is merely tame.