How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

Borrego Springs Local • January 20, 2023

Can Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) Infect Coyotes that Eat Infected Rabbits

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) and Coyotes in Borrego Springs

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a serious and contagious illness that affects adult wild and pet rabbits of the Oryctolagus cuniculus species. When RHD enters a new area, it can cause large drops in rabbit populations. A common concern is whether this disease can spread to other animals, like coyotes, that might eat infected rabbits.

Can Coyotes Get RHD?

Studies show that RHDV, the virus that causes Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, does not affect other mammals, including coyotes. Even when scientists introduced the virus to 28 different animals, none got sick, and the virus didn’t multiply in their bodies. Specifically, research has shown that RHDV and its variants do not replicate in coyotes.

Source: “Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus: A review,” Journal of Comparative Pathology, Volume 153, Issue 3, September 2015, Pages 131-139.

What Happens if Coyotes Eat Infected Rabbits?

While coyotes that eat infected rabbits can develop antibodies, which is called seroconversion, they do not get sick from the virus or spread it to others. This means they’ve been exposed to the virus but can’t pass it on.

Source: “Rabbit haemorrhagic disease in European rabbits and its potential impact on wild lagomorphs and their predators,” Biological Conservation, Volume 143, Issue 7, July 2010, Pages 1715-1724.

Conclusion

To sum up, while coyotes may develop antibodies after eating rabbits with RHD, they don’t get infected or spread the disease. However, it’s still important to be careful when handling wild rabbits in Borrego Springs and Anza-Borrego State Park to prevent the spread of RHD to other rabbit populations.

Taking these precautions helps protect the local wildlife and keep rabbit communities healthy.