UPDATE NOVEMBER 2010

Squirrel Pox continues to flourish in the Keys.  There seemed to be fewer cases in the Key Largo area, but as the mosquito season has held on, the reported cases and sightings continue to be reported.  Islamorada is still slammed with cases.  The gray squirrel population has been devastated just as it has in Key Largo.  The population of Mangrove Fox Squirrels (they look like MFS) appears to be unaffected.  With the westward turn of the island chain in that area, we are hoping that the spread of the pox will be contained due to prevailing winds.  It is important to note that we experienced no hurricanes this year, with their circulating winds.  Hurricanes could possibly be the worst case scenario for our cute little grays as the winds of a hurricane could spread the mosquitoes everywhere in the storm's circulation.  Cross your fingers that this doesn't happen until the pox outbreak ends.

ORIGINAL POST

Squirrel Pox arrived in Key Largo in the early months of 2009.  Many of our juvenile squirrels have perished due to the rapid spread and devastating lesions of the virus.  Several of the youngsters have gone into rehab, but have not survived.  The photos below are of a youngster being treated, or rather supported in his own territory along with the other squirrels in the colony.  The  neighborhood feeding and watering stations are being cleaned at least once daily with a bleach solution and then rinsed and refilled.  The feeding station area is also sprayed at least once per day with a bleach solution.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, mixed nuts, fresh coconut pieces are provided daily as well.  Peanut butter balls laced with Echinacea were also given daily.

As you can see from the photos, the scabs have fallen off the eyes and the lesions are beginning to heal.  This little guys body weight has remained good throughout his ordeal.  During the period that his eyes were covered, he spent his time in one tree close to the feeding area and only came down to eat.  He was often seen sleeping on a branch in the sun.  We are hopeful that his recovery will continue.  Several other squirrel mentors are beginning the same protocol and we are hoping to see improvement in those colonies as well.

It is important to point out that mosquito season has yet to begin.  We are greatly concerned about squirrel colonies from Islamorada south as they are small colonies that have had a rough time since hurricane Wilma.  There appears to be a very small colony of Mangrove Fox squirrels in the Islamorada area as well, and this would be a real disaster for them if the pox were to spread past the 80 mile marker.  Right now it is still found from mile marker 101/102 north and no cases have been reported south of there.  The numbers of squirrels in the middle and Lower Keys is so limited that since 1983, we only just received our first ever Marathon squirrel baby into rehab.  Should the virus spread past the Upper Keys, the effects on our native squirrel populations beyond Tavernier would be devastating.