Rare Animal-Borne Disease Found in Northern Colorado Rabbit

A rare disease that can be transferred to humans from animals in the summer months has been found in Northern Colorado.

Tularemia Found in Dead Rabbit in Larimer County

The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment announced the discovery of a disease caused by bacteria in a dead rabbit found in a neighborhood in Berthoud, and it is likely present in other areas, too.

Photo by Lukas Boekhout on Unsplash

Tularemia is often found in rabbits and other rodents and can be transferred to humans through contact with infected animal tissue, inhaling contaminated dust, drinking contaminated water, and through bites from ticks and deer flies.

How Tularemia Can Spread to Humans

There have only been seven reported cases of the disease since 2020. However, there was a spike in human cases in Colorado in 2015, with 52 cases according to KDVR. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the most common time for a human to contract tularemia is in the summer months.

READ MORE: Larimer County Confirms First Rabies Case of 2026

There are numerous ways to prevent contracting the disease by following these tips:

• Use gloves while gardening and wash your hands before eating
• Use of an EPA-registered insect repellent effective against biting flies and ticks (DEET or picaridin)
• Use of a dust mask when mowing, using a leaf blower, or digging in soil
• Wearing shoes outside, especially where dead animals may have been
• Use of gloves to remove dead rabbits or rodents from your property

Symptoms of tularemia include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and skin ulcers.

When to Report Dead Animals in Larimer County

The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment is urging residents to report three or more dead animals, especially rabbits and rodents, found within a two-week timespan, to the Zoonosis Team at 970-498-6666.