1. Squirrel Pox By Aimee Childress

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Causes & Effects (continued)  Can cause squirrels to become weak, less active, and eventually die.

5. 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.

6. Questions?