The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris, hereafter referred to as the squirrel) is a protected species in the Netherlands. Research by the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) on dead squirrels has found that trauma is the most common direct cause of death. This trauma can be caused by a fall, but also by collisions or

In October and the first weeks of November 2019, ten hares were submitted to DWHC for post-mortem examination. In three hares tularaemia (rabbit fever) has been diagnosed.

In September 2019, tularaemia was again confirmed in a hare on the territory of the Wildlife Management Unit ‘Kromme Rijn’ in the province of Utrecht. A few hares died in this area in previous years due to tularaemia.

In November DWHC reported that tularaemia was found in the province of Overijssel and in the province of Limburg. Also in other parts of the Netherlands hare mortality was reported. It was questioned if the tularaemia was also the cause of death in those parts. In most cases there seems to be a different cause of death.