Wild Rat Tests Positive For Plague In New Mexico After 4 Confirmed Cases in Dog

A dead rat in a backyard just tested positive for the actual plague

The discovery in Santa Fe County follows four cases in local dogs this year, putting pet owners on high alert.

It sounds like something from the Middle Ages. But the black death is still lurking in our backyards, waiting for a pet to bring it inside.

WHAT HAPPENED

A homeowner in Santa Fe County found a dead wild rat on their land. They sent the body to state health officials to be tested.

Tests came back positive for the germ that causes the plague. It is the first wild animal to test positive in the county this year.

This news comes after four pet dogs in the state got sick with the plague earlier this year. Three of those dogs live in Santa Fe County and one lives in Bernalillo County.

FACT BOX

• 1 wild rat found dead with the plague in Santa Fe County in 2026.
• 4 pet dogs infected with the plague in New Mexico this year.
• 50 percent of all US plague cases happen in New Mexico.
• 2 deaths linked to the plague in nearby states last year.
• 1 man put in the hospital with the plague in New Mexico in 2025.

WHY IT MATTERS

While the plague is rare, it is still deadly. Humans can catch it from flea bites or by touching infected animals, including their own pets.

If you catch it early, common medicines can save your life. But without quick medical help, the disease can kill.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Health officials want people to clean up brush, woodpiles, and junk where rats like to live. They also warn people to keep pet food indoors so wild animals cannot get to it.

Pet owners should use flea control on their dogs and cats. If a pet acts tired, loses its appetite, or gets a fever, it needs to see a vet right away.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

• Are there more infected wild rats in the area that have not been found?
• Did the four infected dogs catch the disease from the same area?
• Will this discovery lead to more human cases this season?