Our Letter To California Department of Fish and Game
May 7, 2002Department of Fish and Game
Wildlife and Inland Fisheries Division
Deputy Director, Sonke Mastrup 1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Mr. Mastrup,
I am writing to express strong concerns for California wildlife that could be effected by the introduction of a dangerous disease agent. There have been three outbreaks of RHD, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in the U.S. in the past two years. The second was actually in Utah, far to close to our border for comfort.
Research regarding this viral disease has shown that hares can be infected with RHD. Additional research showed that they cannot. The result of reviewing the research leaves us with the impression that though hares may not be as susceptible to the disease as the European rabbit is, they are still susceptible. And though they may not encounter the fatality rate that rabbits have due to infection, eighty to ninety percent, we do not feel that the only credible assay should be death.
Caliciviruses are known to be abortive agents in many species. With three possibly endangered species of hares in California, any potential threat to reproduction becomes alarming.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease is part of the Lago group of Caliciviruses. The only other member of this group is EBHV, European Brown Hare Virus. EBHV is known to induce disease symptoms and be fatal to a low number of experimentally infected cottontails. What disease symptoms are not clear to us. Though once again, as a member of a family of viruses that are often abortive agents, as well as a family of viruses that changes symptomology readily, this is disturbing. Especially with two possibly endangered species of cottontails in California. To our knowledge the only species of cottontails that have been tested for susceptibility to RHD is the Eastern Cottontail. This does not insure that the endangered or close to endangered species are safe.
The Department of Fish and Game has successfully kept entire species from readily crossing our borders. Many small mammals considered to be "pets" in other states are not allowed to enter. It is our understanding that these laws were created to protect California wildlife. We feel that allowing rabbit and rabbit products into our state that come from countries where RHD is endemic is very dangerous. Can the import of such be banned by the Department of Wildlife? As well as any products derived from hares in countries where EBHV is endemic?
Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Highest Regards,diane of The SanctuaryCo-Founder RHD in the US Coalition
--Albert Einstein, 1879-1955
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