Glacier National Park officials confirmed the spread of a rare but serious zoonotic disease known as tularemia in two snowshoe hares in the Many Glacier region. 

One of the two deceased hares that tested positive for the bacterial disease was found near the Many Glacier staff housing area on Sept. 26. The other was located along the trail to the Swiftcurrent Falls viewing area on Sept. 30. 

The park identified another case of the disease, which is sometimes known as rabbit fever, in a deceased beaver found between Upper and Lower St. Mary lakes on the eastern side of the park in mid-September. Parks spokesperson Autumn Sifuentes said officials decided to test the carcass in that case after observing no signs of predation or a vehicular impact. 

"Given the state of the animal, and its known proximity to high visitor and staff use areas, we wanted to submit it for disease of cause-of-death analysis out of caution," she wrote in an email to the Inter Lake. 

Sifuentes added that officials were "monitoring for inexplicable wildlife mortalities" throughout the park and submitting any suspect carcasses for disease testing. 

While most commonly associated with hares, rabbits and rodents, tularemia has been documented in dozens of species, including humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented 196 cases of tularemia in 2023 — the last year for which data is available — including two cases in Montana. 

Tularemia is highly infectious with multiple ways to spread. Ticks, mosquitos and other blood-sucking bugs act as vectors for the disease, carrying the bacteria from one animal to another. People can also contract tularemia by drinking contaminated water, inhaling contaminated dust or directly handling an infected animal.   

Human-to-human transmission is not known to occur.  

Symptoms in humans typically develop between a few days and two weeks of exposure and include fever, swollen lymph nodes, chills, nausea and vomiting, muscle aches and abdominal pain.   

When diagnosed early, tularemia is treatable with antibiotics. Human fatality rates vary from less than 2% to 24%, depending on the route of infection and the degree of medical treatment received. 

Park officials are advising anyone who develops symptoms of tularemia after visiting the area to seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider of a possible exposure to the bacteria.  

Park visitors can reduce their risk by applying insect repellent, keeping a safe distance from all wildlife and drinking only treated water.   

Outbreaks of the disease in rabbits, hares and rodents often result in high death rates, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 406-758-4433 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.