A case of oropharyngeal tularemia mimicking a peritonsillar abscess is presented. This diagnosis should be entertained in patients who are seen initially with ulcerative-exudative pharyngitis with or without tonsillitis and whose routine cultures are negative and/or are unresponsive to penicillin. Institution of appropriate therapy depends largely on the clinical diagnosis because cultures on ordinary media are routinely negative, and it takes several days for antibody titers to reach diagnostic significance.