Utah Confirms RHDV-2 in 2 Counties, First Wild Rabbit Cases Since 2022
Updated
Updated · wildlife.utah.gov · Jun 23
Utah Confirms RHDV-2 in 2 Counties, First Wild Rabbit Cases Since 2022
3 articles · Updated · wildlife.utah.gov · Jun 23
Summary
Summit and Tooele counties have confirmed RHDV-2 in wild rabbits after dead cottontails near Kamas in late May and black-tailed jackrabbits in the West Desert in early June tested positive.
The virus is highly infectious and often fatal, causing liver inflammation, internal hemorrhaging and sometimes bleeding from the mouth or nose; officials say there is no treatment once rabbits are infected.
Utah wildlife officials said the disease has not been confirmed in the state's wild rabbits since July 11, 2022, and there are currently no confirmed domestic-rabbit cases after the last detection in April 2025.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources warned the virus can persist for months in the environment and spread through carcasses, contaminated materials, predator feces, and indirectly on shoes or clothing.
RHDV-2, first detected in the United States in 2020, can depress rabbit populations and in turn affect predators such as golden eagles and bobcats that rely on rabbits as prey.