Squirrel Pox Virus
Squirrel Peeping round tree. © Jim Wilson Photography
What is Squirrel pox?
Squirrel pox is a viral disease affecting red squirrels, killing them within 15 days of infection. It is carried by grey squirrels, which show no symptoms of disease, so that they continue to thrive and breed while carrying the virus. It is thought to have been brought into Britain with grey squirrels introduced into southern England from America in the early 20th century. Several pox-like disease outbreaks in red squirrels were recorded over the decades, but the virus was first confirmed during a disease outbreak in East Anglia in the 1980s and it has since worked its way steadily northwards. The red squirrel has been in serious decline in the UK for about 80 years. In parts of Scotland where the grey squirrel has been introduced, this decline has been linked to competition for food and has been a relatively slow process. Research in England has shown that replacement of red squirrels by grey's is 17-20 times faster where squirrel pox antibodies are present in grey squirrels. Scotland has remained free from disease until an alarming discovery was made in June 2005: grey squirrels crossing the border from Cumbria into southern Scotland were shown to have been exposed to the virus. The discovery was made by the Moredun Institute who detected specific antibodies to the squirrel pox virus in blood samples from grey squirrels that had been trapped on a property 3 miles south of Kershopefoot in the Scottish Borders. The Red Squirrels in South Scotland project has been monitoring the area and co-ordinating grey squirrel control and pox virus sampling since the first appearance of grey squirrels coming from the south. This is the first convincing evidence of squirrel pox virus in southern Scotland and has implications for all the Scottish red squirrel populationsThese colonising grey squirrels may or may not be infectious at present, but is usually no more than 3 years from the time of the first grey squirrel arrival before there is a disease an outbreak in red squirrels.
What does it look like?
Pox in red squirrels causes skin ulcers, lesions and scabs with swelling and discharge around the eyes, mouth, feet and genitalia. The squirrels become increasingly lethargic, largely due to a failure to feed, as the virus progresses further resulting in death generally within 15 days.
Illustration here.
Further information can be found in the Squirrel pox Information Sheet.
If you find a diseased squirrel, it can be sent for post mortem. See our what to do with a dead squirrel guidance sheet
Help needed in South Scotland
The Red Squirrel Conservation Officers in South Scotland are urgently seeking grey squirrel sightings in the north Cumbria/southern Scotland region to get a better picture of the way grey squirrels are moving northwards. They are also keen to hear of any sick red squirrels that have been sighted as this may indicate an outbreak of the disease. Anyone that comes across a dead red squirrel (other than obvious road-kill) should contact the Red Squirrel Conservation Officer for the region. If you are able to help with grey squirrel control please get in touch. It is vital that targeted control is performed in the area to prevent further spread of diseased grey squirrels into Scotland and minimise the likelihood of an outbreak of the disease in Scottish red squirrels. Squirrels and/or bird feeders encourage squirrels to feed in close contact with each other and may act as a transmission site. In the event of a squirrel pox outbreak it will be necessary to temporarily remove any feeders. For further information, see the Red Squirrels in South Scotland website.
Contact Details:
Richard Wales
Red Squirrel Conservation Officer (Scottish Borders)
01750 23446Ann-Marie McMaster
Red Squirrel Conservation Officer (Dumfries & Galloway)
01387 711804
http://www.mri.sari.ac.uk/virology-reports-03.asp
http://www.mri.sari.ac.uk/surveillance-services-report-03.asp
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