Good News For Harry

IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
edited May 5, 2011 in Wildlife
Squirrel Pox has returned to Brevard County, Florida.

Squirrel Pox, or squirrel fibroma is a viral disease which produces multiple tumors on the skin of gray and fox squirrels. Transmission of Squirrel Pox is by bites from insects such as mosquitoes, flies, ticks, lice and mites.

Last year the the virus killed some squirrels in my back yard, and it appears that the neighborhood population of squirrels are inflected again this year.........

SquirrelPox_5123.jpg

SquirrelPox_5118.jpg

SquirrelPox_5128.jpg
My Photo Gallery
http://ira-runyan.artistwebsites.com/index.html

Florida Wildlife & Nature Photography

Comments

  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited March 29, 2011
    That is just terrible...poor little fellas, gotta be very uncomfortable.......and surely makes inedible.......at least for humans.
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited March 29, 2011
    Man, that rat's fur coat is lookin' a bit moth-eaten.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 29, 2011
    clap.gif

    Its just payback for all their past evil deeds.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited March 29, 2011
    Harryb wrote: »
    clap.gif

    Its just payback for all their past evil deeds.


    I musta missed it...I remember the sig line, but never investigated...So uh, Squirrels and you? Is that from a former life or this one?
    tom wise
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    That's sad news to hear that there may be a reduction in the population of eagle, hawk and owl food.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    angevin1 wrote: »
    I musta missed it...I remember the sig line, but never investigated...So uh, Squirrels and you? Is that from a former life or this one?


    http://deadsquirrel.com/
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • WossaWossa Registered Users Posts: 99 Big grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    Looks terrible...!
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    That's sad news to hear that there may be a reduction in the population of eagle, hawk and owl food.
    Maybe they'll move on to useless little dogs.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • lizzard_nyclizzard_nyc Registered Users Posts: 4,056 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    Ok perhaps this isn't the place to ask this--but I am concerned and this is the wildlife forum after all.
    We have sort of adopted a squirrel and to top it all, the kids named him Harrold, seriously.

    My point is he is not looking well. So much of his furr is gone and he looks downright terrible. We live in NYC, has this disease spread here? I don't know if he was maulled by birds, squirrels (he is always taking a beating) or if it's this disease. Any thoughts.
    I have photos

    http://lizzardnyc.smugmug.com/Other/random/10391680_Q5bsb#1234369658_XDqb9

    http://lizzardnyc.smugmug.com/Other/random/10391680_Q5bsb#1234369627_9463f

    in better times.
    http://lizzardnyc.smugmug.com/Other/random/10391680_Q5bsb#1234369683_Tp54x

    I am somewhat concerned as I've taken a liking to this rat with fur.
    Liz A.
    _________
  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    lizzard_nyc wrote: »
    Ok perhaps this isn't the place to ask this--but I am concerned and this is the wildlife forum after all.
    We have sort of adopted a squirrel and to top it all, the kids named him Harrold, seriously.

    My point is he is not looking well. So much of his furr is gone and he looks downright terrible. We live in NYC, has this disease spread here? I don't know if he was maulled by birds, squirrels (he is always taking a beating) or if it's this disease. Any thoughts.
    I have photos

    http://lizzardnyc.smugmug.com/Other/random/10391680_Q5bsb#1234369658_XDqb9

    http://lizzardnyc.smugmug.com/Other/random/10391680_Q5bsb#1234369627_9463f

    in better times.
    http://lizzardnyc.smugmug.com/Other/random/10391680_Q5bsb#1234369683_Tp54x

    I am somewhat concerned as I've taken a liking to this rat with fur.

    Here is some information on Squirrel Pox which may answer some of your questions...

    http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-27274--,00.html

    http://www.wildthingssanctuary.org/uploads/3/3/8/0/338027/squirrel_fibromatosis1.pdf

    Information on Squirrel Pox in New York can be found on page 8 of this document Fibroma and Notoedric Mange in Grey Squirrels
    By Lainie Angel and Nancy Kimball     at http://www.nyswrc.org/2010winter.pdf

    Short answer is yes, Squirrel Pox is in New York, but from your photos it would appear that your little "Tree Rat" does not have it, but looks like it has a loss of hair due to fleas or mange.........
    My Photo Gallery
    http://ira-runyan.artistwebsites.com/index.html

    Florida Wildlife & Nature Photography
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    Looks more like mange to me.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2011
    I can only relate that it looks like that when dogs have mange. Definitely has some issue Liz be careful.
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • lizzard_nyclizzard_nyc Registered Users Posts: 4,056 Major grins
    edited March 31, 2011
    DsrtVW wrote: »
    I can only relate that it looks like that when dogs have mange. Definitely has some issue Liz be careful.


    Thank you John, Iran and Chris.
    I had to google mange because although I've heard the term "mangy dog" I didn't really know what it was. Well I hope he makes it. He was already getting beat up by his peers, imagine the ridicule he will have to endure now.

    Thanks again.
    Liz A.
    _________
  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited April 1, 2011
    On occasion, a Gray Squirrel will survive the Squirrel Pox, and the Squirrel population is slowly building up a resistance to the virus. This one however does not appear to be doing very well.........

    SquirrelPox_5263.jpg
    My Photo Gallery
    http://ira-runyan.artistwebsites.com/index.html

    Florida Wildlife & Nature Photography
  • amdcp61amdcp61 Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited May 5, 2011
    IraRunyan wrote: »
    On occasion, a Gray Squirrel will survive the Squirrel Pox, and the Squirrel population is slowly building up a resistance to the virus. This one however does not appear to be doing very well.........

    I just took this pic today in my back yard - we've nicknamed this squirrel Lumpy. I haven't been able to find many pictures of squirrel pox online, and none quite as advanced as this. She (I think it's a she) doesn't behave as if she's sick, but WOW is she ugly!

    201105008LumpytheSquirrel.jpg
  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited May 5, 2011
    amdcp61 wrote: »
    I just took this pic today in my back yard - we've nicknamed this squirrel Lumpy. I haven't been able to find many pictures of squirrel pox online, and none quite as advanced as this. She (I think it's a she) doesn't behave as if she's sick, but WOW is she ugly!

    Why do you need to find pictures online? From the looks of things you are doing quite well in documenting your Squirrel Pox on Lumpy.

    Chances are that it will die in 2-3 weeks, faster if the eyes get infected. As the illness progresses, you may note the Squirrel having problems walking and becoming weak. Usually you don't see the death, the Squirrel will just stop showing up.
    My Photo Gallery
    http://ira-runyan.artistwebsites.com/index.html

    Florida Wildlife & Nature Photography
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