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Squirrel Pox. By Aimee Childress. What Is Squirrel Pox?. Squirrel Pox aka Squirrel Fibroma Viral disease that produces tumors on the skin of grey & fox squirrels. In most cases it is fatal but squirrels can recover from it.
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Squirrel Pox By Aimee Childress
What Is Squirrel Pox? • Squirrel Pox aka Squirrel Fibroma • Viral disease that produces tumors on the skin of grey & fox squirrels. • In most cases it is fatal but squirrels can recover from it. • Grey squirrels are naturally immune to the virus but it is carried in their blood.
Causes & Effects • Tumors are caused by a virus but more specifically transmitted from insects. • No obvious signs of illness. • Mainly affects juveniles. • Tumors can be found all over the body and vary in size from a few millimeters to 25 millimeters in diameter. • Lesions can be circular, red or abscessed.
Causes & Effects(continued) • Can cause squirrels to become weak, less active, and eventually die.
Treatments and Facts • There is no cure for this virus but it can be treated. • Currently the best way to control the disease is separate grey squirrels or reduce their population. • It’s one of the main causes of decline in Red Squirrel population in the United Kingdom. • Not transmissible to humans.