“Zombie Squirrels” in North America: Virus Outbreak Affects Backyards

As the online world continues to buzz with unsettling images of “Last of Us” -inspired rabbits sporting tentacle-like growths, North America is now facing another peculiar phenomenon: zombie squirrels.

Reports have emerged from Maine and various regions in Canada showcasing grotesque gray squirrels afflicted with pus-filled, wart-like tumors. The Daily Mail highlights these alarming cases.

Social media platforms, particularly Reddit and X, are filled with images documenting squirrels exhibiting oozing sores and patches of bare skin on their bodies. Although reports of these stricken squirrels originated in mid-2023, a resurgence of sightings has been noted this summer.

Understanding the Disease Behind the Disturbing Sightings

Experts identify the potential cause of this troubling phenomenon as squirrel fibromatosis—a viral skin ailment attributed to the leporipoxvirus.

What is on this Squirrel’s face? byu/NotYetGenerated insquirrels

While most instances of this disease resolve on their own, there are cases wherein it can affect the internal organs, leading to fatal consequences. Wildlife officials are keen to reassure the public that this virus poses no threat to humans or pets. However, it’s important to note that bird feeders could inadvertently contribute to the spread of the disease by bringing squirrels into closer quarters.

Shevenell Webb of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife advises against intervention: “I would not recommend trying to capture a squirrel that has the virus. It is a naturally occurring issue and will resolve with time.”

The emergence of these unsettling zombie squirrels adds to the growing catalog of bizarre creatures trending online, following closely on the heels of the eerie rabbit sightings reminiscent of a horror video game.

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