White-tailed prairie hares (Lepus townsendii), also known as jackrabbits, are key herbivores and prey species in Canada’s prairie ecosystems, yet their populations are declining for reasons that remain poorly understood. This research investigates the role of disease, an understudied but potentially important driver of hare health and population change, with implications for both wildlife conservation and zoonotic risk. Using full autopsies, histopathology, and targeted pathogen testing, these studies aim to:

• characterize non-traumatic causes of death in urban hares from Calgary
• identify demographic and environmental risk factors for disease
• evaluate the prevalence and drivers of tularemia, a serious infection that can spread from
  animals to people
• assess hares as sentinels for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria by characterizing prevalence
  and resistance patterns

By combining pathology with spatial and statistical analyses, this work aims to generate actionable insights into disease dynamics at the human–wildlife interface, supporting evidence-based conservation, wildlife health monitoring, and practical guidance for people who interact with hares.