Apparently, there have been lots of bunnies around this year. One Falcon resident is asking homeowners to check their window wells for bunnies that have fallen. Be extra cautious about handling those bunnies.Donít handle sick or dead animalsEl Paso County Public Health sent out a press release at the end of June instructing residents to be careful around wild animals. After a large number of rabbits died in the Yoder area, one rabbit that died was tested for tularemia, also known as ìrabbit fever.îTularemia is a bacterial infection most commonly transmitted to humans by the handling of sick or dead animals infected with tularemia, according to the press release. A bite from infected insects (most commonly ticks and deer flies) can infect humans, too. Tularemia can be treated with antibiotics. Anyone who becomes ill after exposure to a sick or dead animal, or after spending time in areas where sick or dead wild animals have been seen, should contact a medical provider.†Dogs and cats also get tularemia by eating infected rabbits or other rodents and through tick and deer fly bites. If your pet shows symptoms of illness including fever, nasal and eye discharge, and skin sores, take it promptly to a veterinarian. Tularemia is easily treated if diagnosed early in dogs and cats.†So far this year, Colorado has seen 15 human cases of tularemia. No human cases of the infection have been reported in El Paso County.
