News Life

Aspens bust, diseased mice boom

Decline of Western trees swells population of rodents that carry sin nombre virus

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

SALT LAKE CITY — Recent diebacks of aspen trees in the U.S. West may end up increasing the risk posed by a lethal human pathogen, a new study suggests.

DANGEROUSLY CUTE Deer mice carrying a deadly virus are becoming more common in the West as a sudden and mysterious loss of aspen trees has effects rippling throughout the ecosystem, new research suggests.