2 cases of squirrel Pox

[TubeDriver]

Two of my regular wilds are showing early symptoms of Pox (small/medium size lesions in the ear/eye area). I have a water bottle hanging on my deck. Trying to weigh the advantages of continuing to make fresh/clean water available against the possibility that the water bottle will become a fomite and spread the disease among my yard squirrels? Should I remove the water bottle? Thanks for any recommendations.



PS My wild squirrels are regularly drinking large amounts from this water bottle, I have to refill it every other day or so. I never realized how much water an adult wild needs.

[CritterMom]

Everything I have read indicates that this stuff spreads via mosquito vector. I would leave the water in place.

[TubeDriver]

Thanks CM. I have also heard about mosquitoes as the primary means of transmission. However, I did more background research and according to AI, bodily fluids can also spread the disease.


'Squirrel pox spreads mainly through biting insects like mosquitoes and fleas, direct contact (fighting, mating), and contact with infected bodily fluids (saliva, urine, feces), especially around shared feeders, and can also transfer from mother to young; the virus is robust and survives in the environment, allowing for transmission via contaminated objects like feeders." - Google AI


I now have seen 3 (not two) squirrels with Pox, two with minor symptoms and the third with larger lesions (although still only at the ear/eye area). These three are Parker's babies and live in a squirrel box above our deck so they are in close contact.

I think I'm going to pull the water bottle for now. With our current temps, the bottle is often frozen anyway so squirrels were getting water elsewhere which makes the decision easier. I hate Pox.

Everything I have read indicates that this stuff spreads via mosquito vector. I would leave the water in place.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Oh NO, not Ms. Parker's babies! Only 3 of them ??

How about Ms. Parker ?? She is clear or is this the start of epidemic ??

Will you try to treat ??

Mr.SSG