A dead squirrel found last month in Lake Tahoe, Calif., has tested positive for the plague, authorities said on Friday.
The squirrel’s body was discovered on Aug. 17 at a picnic area adjacent to the Tallac Historic Site and sent to a state laboratory for testing, El Dorado County health officials said in a statement. Warning signs have been posted in the affected area, advising individuals to report any dead or sick rodents.
Authorities said they are not aware of any human contact with the squirrel.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County, so we need to be cautious around animals that can carry it,” said Karen Bender, a supervisor with the El Dorado County Environmental Management Division.
Two human cases of the plague have been reported in California so far in 2015, according to El Dorado County authorities. Both people were treated and recovered.
- Extreme Heat Makes It Hard for Kids to Be Active. But Exercise Is Crucial In a Warming World
- Pelosi's Visit to Taiwan Has Badly Damaged U.S.-China Relations, But Not Irreversibly
- Reality TV Has Reshaped Our World, Whether We Like It or Not
- Progress Is Not A Given. It is Won: The Connection Between James Baldwin and Toni Morrison
- The Inflation Reduction Act's Name Says A Lot About The Climate Fight
- How Reservation Dogs Became More than Just Must-See Television in Its Second Season
- The U.S Will Soon Have Space Force Ambassadors Around the World
