Did the black death effect animals?

Answer 1

the only animals that were effected by the black plague was rats and birds and very few were dogs Animals were vectors, or carriers of the plague germ, but they were unaffected by it. Thousands of farm animals died as well, either from the plague or from lack of care. The Death Rate peaked in the warm summer months and dropped dramatically in the wintertime because the plague was being spread to humans by fleas on infected rodents. The plague revisited Europe several more times over the next few centuries. In addition, millions of people are thought to have suffered from food poisoning during the Middle Ages because of the presence of rat droppings in the grain supply. Centuries of cat slaughter had allowed the rodent population to surge out of control.

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Answer 2

I took this from someone else but it helps...

Yes. We know of course that illnesses can infect different species of animals, and this was the case during the Bubonic Plague. The Center for New History and Media states what happened: "The Black Death was brought on, it is believed, by an epizootic, or animal epidemic, among marmots in Central Asia that caused the flea (Xenopsylla cheopsis) which passes the bacillus (Yersinia pestis) to leave its preferred host and search for new sources of food, that is, human blood. Rats brought infected fleas, the plague vector, into Europe on ships leaving the Black Sea and shores of the eastern Mediterranean."

Additionally, many farm animals died not only from catching the plague themselves, but due to their human caretakers falling ill, and thus neglecting them.

National Geographic states specifically that "The animal reservoir for plague includes mice, camels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, rabbits, and squirrels, but the most dangerous for humans are rats." I'm assuming from the Library Index's information that others could catch it too though, such as perhaps cattle, pigs, horses, etc.

Unfortunately, however, the exact number of animals that died does not seem to be known.

Answer 3

The Black Death took a toll on animals, but though we know some died, we do not know how many. Certainly, it kills rats, squirrels, mice and other rodents quite effectively. It is also very deadly to human beings. I have read that it killed cattle and other domesticated animals, but it is usually hard to know exactly what that means. In some cases, we read of cattle dying of the plague itself, but in most I have read about, the cattle died because there was no one to tend them. People did not keep great records of peasants, but their records of farm animals were very sparse.

Answer 4

Yes it did. After they human the flea was feeding off died, the flea would find the next warm-blooded living thing which might have been a dog, cat or farm animal. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

black death was spread by black rats. Fleas helped to spread it as well.

Answer 6

Yes, an animal could get the black death, many animals did get the black death.