Latest news with #ShevenellWebb
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
After rabbits with tentacles the rise of hairless zombie squirrels with oozing flesh scares US neighbourhoods: See pics
Just when Colorado residents were still reeling from viral photos of rabbits sporting black horn-like growths, a new creepy critter has entered the chat – squirrels with bulging, hairless tumours that make them look straight out of a zombie flick. Sightings have popped up in states like Maine and even across Canada, with locals branding the creatures 'zombie squirrels.' What is really happening to these squirrels? Experts have explained that the disturbing growths are likely a result of a condition called squirrel fibromatosis, a poxvirus in the same family as the infamous myxoma virus that wreaks havoc on rabbits. Some have speculated about squirrelpox, a virus more commonly associated with British red squirrel declines, but that option seems less likely in the U.S. Despite the nightmare aesthetics, fibromatosis is not the squirrel apocalypse. The disease is common, usually non-lethal, and the tumours typically shrink on their own after a few weeks or months. It spreads through close squirrel-to-squirrel contact, shared feeding spots, and insects like fleas and mosquitoes. Wildlife officials say do not panic Shevenell Webb of Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has reassured residents that 'zombie squirrels' are scarier to look at than to live around. Neither fibromatosis nor squirrelpox pose risks to humans, pets, or birds. The best advice, Webb said, is to simply leave the squirrels alone and let nature take its course. We had rabbits growing spikes last week and we have 'Zombie Squirrels' this week. Leporipoxvirus is what it's called. Rabbit tentacle horror show The rise of 'zombie squirrels' comes hot on the heels of viral rabbit sightings in Colorado that looked like something from a horror B-movie. Locals reported rabbits with black tentacle-like growths sprouting from their faces, sparking online comparisons to 'aliens' and 'Frankenstein bunnies.' Wildlife officials confirmed those rabbits are suffering from Shope papillomavirus (SPV), a rabbit-only infection that causes wart-like tumours around the face and head. Much like fibromatosis, it is spread by biting insects, cannot infect humans or pets, and usually does not harm the rabbit unless it interferes with eating or vision. Nature is out-creeping the internet Between tentacle bunnies and tumour-ridden squirrels, it feels like North America is in its very own low-budget horror trilogy. The reality, though, is that these viral animal oddities are age-old wildlife diseases, not signs of an impending zombie apocalypse. Still, try explaining that to TikTok.
Metro
a day ago
- Health
- Metro
Zombie' squirrels covered in sores spotted after 'Frankenstein rabbits' scare
Yet more cute animals have caused concern in the US over strange growths which really shouldn't be there. It hasn't been long since 'Frankenstein' rabbits with black tendrils covering their faces started hopping around in Colorado. And now squirrels covered in oozing sores have been spotted in gardens across the US and Canada. The first instances of these 'zombie squirrels' date back to 2023, when a homeowner took pictures of several grey squirrels covered in tumours in their yard. The hairless growths have been seen to ooze pus and they can appear on most of the squirrels' body from their head and eyes to their legs and genitals. But the number of sightings has exploded in the past month, Daily Mail reports – but this could be because more squirrels are out and about gathering food for the winter, wildlife experts say. And it's feared leaving bird feeders in the garden for both birds and squirrels to eat from could be helping the illness to spread. While there isn't an official verdict on what the squirrels are suffering from, experts suggest it's likely squirrel fibromatosis, a common virus which causes wart-like growths which usually heal on their own. Shevenell Webb from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 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. '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. 'I would not recommend trying to capture a squirrel that has the virus. It is naturally occurring and will run its course in time.' While wildlife experts haven't confirmed whether the new sightings are cases of fibromatosis or the less common squirrel pox (SQPV), it's far less likely that squirrel pox is the culprit. SQPV is a systemic condition that often results in death among red squirrels, who are more vulnerable to the virus. More Trending It's more common in the UK, as there are more red squirrels there compared to the US and Canada. Thankfully, once a squirrel contracts fibromatosis, they tend to recover fully and the condition doesn't tend to come back. It can take up to eight weeks for a squirrel's immune system to rid itself of the virus, but it could take longer for larger or additional infections to heal. This means the very same animals who are suffering with the illness this year will probably be cured by the time summer comes around next year, with no growths in sight. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Wild pigs are turning neon blue in California – here's why MORE: Trump sets up private Putin and Zelensky meeting to thrash out peace deal alone MORE: Two cruise passengers die in separate drownings on same day at Bahamas resort
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Sightings of ‘zombie squirrels' spark fears in US and Canada
Grey squirrels covered in bulging, hairless tumours have been sighted across states such as Maine and parts of Canada in recent months, according to a Daily Mail analysis of social media posts. While users have commented on the rodents' 'zombie'-like appearance, wildlife experts have said the wart-like lesions appear to be consistent with a condition called squirrel fibromatosis. The virus belongs to the Leporipoxvirus genus within the Poxviridae family, the same group that includes the myxoma virus, which causes myxomatosis in rabbits. It often gets confused with squirrelpox, which is caused by another virus carried harmlessly by grey squirrels but which can fatally infect red squirrels. According to the Mail, experts have not yet confirmed whether the new sightings are cases of fibromatosis or squirrelpox, though the latter is considered to be less likely to spread in the US. While squirrel fibromatosis might look terrifying, it's a common, often non-lethal skin disease. The virus spreads through direct contact between healthy squirrels and the lesions or saliva of infected squirrels – often at feeding tables – and biting insects such as mosquitoes and fleas. It can appear anywhere on the animal's body, but is most common on the face and limbs. The growths usually regress on their own in several weeks or months. Shevenell Webb, of Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, told Bangor Daily News that residents who come across a 'zombie squirrel' have little to fear as neither squirrel fibromatosis nor squirrelpox is believed to be transmissible to humans, domestic pets or birds. It comes after reports of rabbits in Fort Collins, Colorado, alarming residents with black-coloured growths resembling horns protruding from their heads. Photos of rabbits with antler-like nodules have gone viral, drawing comparisons to 'zombies', 'aliens' and 'Frankenstein bunnies'. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have identified the cause as shope papillomavirus, a rabbit-only virus with no cure that produces wart-like tumours, particularly around the face and head. (© The Independent)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
After 'Frankenstein' rabbits, 'zombie squirrels' are haunting Americans
Source: X Squirrels with grotesque, wart-like tumors have been spotted across the United States and Canada, particularly in states like Maine. The condition, marked by pus-filled tumors and hairless patches, has alarmed residents and fueled viral discussions on Reddit, X, and other platforms. According to reports, sightings of these afflicted animals have surfaced since mid-2023, with numbers rising this summer. Some residents have dubbed them 'zombie squirrels' due to their disturbing appearance. One Reddit user recalled seeing a gray squirrel with a tumor on its mouth on July 31, initially thinking it was eating something in a flowerbed before realizing the growth was attached to its face. The cause: Squirrel Fibromatosis Wildlife experts identify the phenomenon as squirrel fibromatosis—a naturally occurring viral skin disease that looks frightening but poses no risk to humans, pets, or birds. The condition is caused by the leporipoxvirus and spreads through direct contact, often when healthy squirrels encounter the saliva or lesions of infected ones. The transmission mechanism is similar to how herpes spreads in humans. Unlike squirrelpox—common in the UK and often fatal to red squirrels—this virus usually resolves within four to eight weeks. However, in rare cases, internal organ involvement can be fatal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Wildlife biologist Shevenell Webb of Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife told the Bangor Daily News that the clustering of squirrels—often around bird feeders—may be driving the spread. 'It's like when you get a large concentration of people. If someone is sick and it spreads easily, others are going to catch it,' she said. Uneaten seeds contaminated with saliva or fluid from an infected squirrel can pass the virus on to others. Webb urged residents not to interfere. 'It is naturally occurring and will run its course in time,' she noted. Rabbits with antler-like growths Source: X At the same time, unusual wildlife sightings have been reported in Colorado, where cottontail rabbits infected with Shope papilloma virus—also called cottontail papilloma virus—develop black, antler-like growths protruding from their heads. The disease is spread by parasites like ticks and fleas, which pass on the ailment through their bites, according to Pet MD. While the recent sightings occurred in Colorado, the disease most frequently appears in the Midwest. 'Typically rabbits become infected in the warmer months of summer when transmitted by being bitten by insects like fleas and ticks,' said Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose, per the Coloradoan. Fortunately, Colorado Parks and Wildlife notes that while the virus can spread between rabbits, it is not known to infect humans or pets and is not considered a public health threat.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Zombie squirrels' with horrific flesh sores invading gardens
Residents in the US and Canada have been left horrified after spotting grey squirrels covered in bulbous growths that split open and leak pus - with images showing tumors spreading across their bodies Gardens across North America are being invaded by grotesque squirrels riddled with oozing sores - and experts say garden bird feeders could be fuelling the outbreak. Residents in the US and Canada have been left horrified after spotting grey squirrels covered in bulbous growths that split open and leak pus. Disturbing photos show the creatures with tumours spreading across their faces, eyes, legs, and even their private parts. The freakish phenomenon first surfaced in Maine in 2023, when locals captured images of the stricken animals. Since then, reports have snowballed online, with stunned social media users swapping theories about the grisly condition. Some claimed it could be "squirrel pox," but wildlife officials believe the more likely culprit is squirrel fibromatosis - a virus that disfigures the rodents with wart-like lumps. And everyday bird feeders may be turning the problem into an epidemic. "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," warned Shevenell Webb of Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The virus, spread through saliva and open lesions, is harmless to humans and pets but brutal on squirrels. Experts say people should avoid touching them at all costs. "I would not recommend trying to capture a squirrel that has the virus," Webb told the Bangor Daily News. "It is naturally occurring and will run its course in time." While most squirrels eventually recover, the disease can sometimes penetrate internal organs - leaving the creatures doomed. It comes as another mysterious virus in Colorado has transformed rabbits into alien-looking creatures with black tentacle-like growths sprouting from their heads. The so-called Frankenbunnies have been reported multiple times in Fort Collins, with local resident Susan Mansfield said she spotted a cottontail rabbit covered in what appeared to be "black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth." She told 9News: "I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn't. He came back a second year, and it grew." Another witness described the infected animal as having "a scabbiesh-looking growth over their face." The culprit behind these eerie deformities is cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus, which triggers tumour growths around the rabbits' heads. Parasites such as fleas and ticks transmit the virus through their bites, according to Pet MD. Authorities have urged the public to steer clear of the affected animals.
