Squirrelpox concerns in Waterloo Region

Volunteers with a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Waterloo Region are raising concern as they continue to be contacted about squirrels believed to be infected with squirrelpox.

Joy Huggins is with Wildlife Haven Waterloo and said the reports have been coming in over the past few months.

“I believe our first call that a squirrel was infected with squirrelpox was very early in September 2023,” said Huggins in an e-mail statement to CityNews Kitchener. “The areas that I got calls, emails, texts and [social media] messages were from Waterloo, Kitchener, and I believe one in Cambridge.”

All of the suspected cases have involved eastern grey squirrels and no red squirrels have been impacted so far.

Huggins said squirrelpox is extremely contagious between squirrels, and can be fatal for red squirrels specifically. However, it cannot be transmitted to humans or pets.

To date, all the local squirrelpox cases have been presumed and have not been confirmed.

Huggins said they’re presumed positive because of the noticeable symptoms like tumours that look like bumpy lesions and sores, eye swelling, and fur loss.

Wildlife Haven Waterloo has also been contacted by some people who think a squirrel has squirrelpox, but it ends up being mange. Mange is also extremely contagious and can be fatal for squirrels, if it’s not treated.

Huggins said if you see a squirrel that you suspect is sick with squirrelpox or mange, try to take a photo and contact Wildlife Haven Waterloo so they can develop a plan of action.