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Sick squirrels covered in warts spotted in backyards across US
FOX Weather • • health
Key Points:
- Squirrel pox, a virus causing wart-like growths on fox and gray squirrels, has been appearing in several U.S. states and can be fatal in severe cases by impairing the squirrels' ability to eat, see, or move.
- The virus, originally from the UK and fatal to red squirrels, spreads primarily through biting insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and midges.
- Wildlife experts report that the tumors often resolve on their own, and treatment focuses on immune support until recovery, with several squirrels recently rehabilitated and released.
- To reduce the spread of squirrel pox, residents are advised to eliminate standing water to reduce mosquito breeding and remove food sources to minimize squirrel contact.
- The virus is not contagious to humans or pets, alleviating concerns about cross-species transmission.
