Jen Thomas
It's not a fun time for animal lovers - first it was 'zombie bunnies', now it's 'zombie squirrels' as many adorable critters seem to be suffering.
Residents in the US recently started to notice that some rabbits were afflicted with large growths on their faces, heads, shoulders and necks.
Earning them the nickname of zombie rabbits or Cthulhu bunnies - thanks to their resemblance to the fictional H.P. Lovecraft characters - people had been staying away from our fluffy friends and, naturally, worrying about their own pets.
While it was confirmed that the infected rabbits were wild and the virus was unlikely to be spread to pets and humans, it now seems like squirrels are also being impacted by a condition following several concerning sightings in the US.
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The 'zombie squirrels' have been spotted in places like Maine and across parts of Canada.
Eyewitnesses have seen the poor things with 'pus-filled' sores and hairless patches across their bodies.
Social media users have been sharing snaps of the squirrels on Twitter and Reddit, asking if anyone knows what is ailing the garden visitors.
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Reports first started back in 2023, but have picked up again more recently.
One asked on Reddit: “At first I thought it was eating something from my front beds, but then I realized it was on its face," saying they saw a squirrel with what looked like a tumour on its mouth.
According to the Daily Mail, they may be suffering from squirrel fibromatosis, a viral skin disease caused by leporipoxvirus.
The virus spreads through direct contact between healthy squirrels and infected squirrels, via the infected lesions or saliva.
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It is said to be similar to the way herpes or cold sores are transmitted between humans.
Many users online thought it might be squirrelpox, but this is apparently much more prevalent in the UK and impacts red squirrels the worst, and can be fatal.
By comparison, leporipoxvirus is responsible for the wart-like tumours that are oozing. Lovely.
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Fortunately, in most cases, it will clear up on its own.
Shevenell Webb, a wildlife biologist who works for Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, told Bangor Daily News that the squirrels are of no risk to humans, pets, or birds. However, birdfeeders in the garden can cause a hotspot for it to spread, due to the close contact the creatures have.
Eating seeds which have been contaminated with the saliva or other fluids from an infected squirrel could be the cause.
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“It’s like when you get a large concentration of people. If someone is sick and it’s something that spreads easily, others are going to catch it,” Webb said. "Like a lot of people, I love watching birds. Unfortunately, you can attract multiple [squirrels] to that feeder and risk exposure if one has the virus.”
She also stressed the importance of leaving the animals alone.
“I would not recommend trying to capture a squirrel that has the virus,” Webb cautioned, “It is naturally occurring and will run its course in time.”
It often takes four to eight weeks to clear up.