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‘Zombie’ squirrels with oozing warts are found in several states in peoples’ backyards
Yahoo News Canada • • health
Key Points:
- Squirrels with wart-like, oozing tumors have been spotted in several U.S. states this summer, including Florida, Michigan, and North Carolina, leading to the nickname "zombie squirrels."
- The tumors are caused by squirrel fibromatosis, a disease linked to the Lepripoxvirus, which typically clears up on its own within four to eight weeks without seriously harming the squirrels.
- While the tumors rarely affect the animals' survival, they can occasionally spread to internal organs, causing weakness and lethargy.
- The disease is not contagious to humans or pets, and experts advise against capturing infected squirrels, recommending instead that homeowners remove bird feeders to reduce close contact among squirrels.
- Infections tend to spike during spring and summer when squirrels gather in groups, facilitating the spread of the virus.
