Kidney lesions discovered in Calgary’s urban jackrabbits
A veterinary researcher studying Calgary’s urban wildlife has uncovered a surprising health anomaly in the city’s jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii). In a recent study examining 130 jackrabbits found near city roadways, Dr. Jamie Rothenburger, wildlife veterinary pathologist and assistant professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) at the University of Calgary, identified renal hamartomas—benign, tumor-like kidney growths—in six per cent of the animals.
Renal hamartomas are rare lesions composed of normal tissue elements arranged abnormally. While typically harmless, this frequency and concentration have not been documented in any previous large-scale studies of wild hares or rabbits worldwide.
“This represents a unique temporal and geographical cluster,” said Dr. Jamie Rothenburger, wildlife veterinary pathologist and assistant professor at UCVM. “We don’t yet know what’s contributing to these findings, but they raise important questions about how urban environments influence wildlife health.”
The study forms part of a larger project exploring health and disease in Calgary’s wild hares. Future research will investigate causes of death among jackrabbits, as well as their parasites and bacteria, to better understand how urban factors may be influencing disease and survival.
“This type of research helps us understand the connection between urbanization, animal health, and our shared environments,” said Dr. Rothenburger. “Wildlife in cities like Calgary offer valuable clues about how development and environmental change impact all species — including humans.”
The findings underscore the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s ongoing commitment to understanding and protecting the health of animals and ecosystems across Alberta’s rapidly developing urban landscapes.
