Wildlife specialists are advising people in the United States to maintain a safe distance from certain squirrels that have been observed with abnormal sores and warts.
Generally seen as charming woodland inhabitants due to their bushy tails and quick movements, squirrels have recently raised alarm among some internet users in the US after reports of them displaying unusual growths.
A Reddit user posted a photo on July 31, noting they initially thought the squirrel had been ‘eating something’, only to later realize the mass was actually ‘on its face’.
“Any ideas what is going on with this little fella?,” they inquired.
This isn’t a new phenomenon, as similar concerns about these creatures have emerged over the last couple of years.
In Maine, 2023 saw sightings of squirrels with oozing sores and scaly growths, leading the Bangor Daily News to attribute these symptoms to squirrel pox.
Shevenell Webb, a wildlife biologist and furbearer specialist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, reassured that the illness would ‘run its course’, and advised against approaching squirrels exhibiting these symptoms.
Webb noted: “I would not recommend trying to capture a squirrel that has the virus. It is naturally occurring and will run its course in time.”
The disease can spread among squirrels when they congregate, such as around bird feeders in search of food.
“It’s like when you get a large concentration of people,” Webb explained. “If someone is sick and it’s something that spreads easily, others are going to catch it.”
“You have one squirrel eating at the feeder that has the virus and its saliva gets on the feeder of the other seeds. Then another squirrel comes along and comes in contact with that saliva — it’s the perfect place to spread squirrel pox.”
Most squirrels infected with squirrel pox can naturally recover, although severe cases where lumps reach internal organs can be fatal for the animal.
While unfortunate for the squirrels, the disease poses no threat to humans, but it is still advisable to steer clear of affected squirrels.
“It’s nothing to really worry about,” Webb said. “For the most part, squirrels with squirrel pox are just really ugly to look at.”
The Reddit user who recently expressed their concern noted that a Google search suggested squirrel fibromatosis, another term for squirrel pox, although a fellow Redditor commented that they didn’t ‘see anything really wrong’.
While Webb identified the issue as resembling chicken pox, experts at Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge in Virginia have identified another cause of ‘unusual looking skin lumps’ in squirrels – a parasite called a botfly.
This parasite, according to the rescue center, ‘tunnels through the flesh’, leading to swollen protrusions.
The center cautioned: “Only skilled rehabbers or vets should attempt to extract bots.”
These sightings coincide with other disturbing observations in the US, such as rabbits appearing to have ‘tentacles’ due to a disease known as cottontail papilloma virus.
As these alarming reports continue, a Twitter user expressed their frustration, stating: “Zombie Squirrels?! Seriously?! FFS!!”