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.
Questions?