Red squirrels carrying medieval strain of human leprosy as people warned to stay away

Telegraph (UK) ^ | 10 November 2016 | Sarah Knapton

[Lorianne]

Red squirrels are carrying human leprosy and people have been warned to stay away from the animals to minimise the risk of catching the disease.

One of the strains – which is affecting squirrels on Brownsea Island, off the south coast of Dorset – shares close similarities with that responsible for outbreaks of the disease in medieval Europe.

Researchers tested 25 samples from red squirrels on the island and found that all were infected with the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, though not all showed signs of the disease. Those that did had swelling and hair loss on the ears, muzzle and feet.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Shot a dozen of the American variety last weekend while deer hunting.

The Single Six with bird shot does a nice job.

[Mercat]

My brother in law got licensed to have a silencer on his 22 pistol so he could sit in his backyard and shoot the little tree rats without bothering the neighbors.

[dadfly]

bookmark

[Big Red Badger]

Bring Out Your Dead!

[headstamp 2]

They also can castrate grays

[Big Horn]

I wish we has some squirrels.

[KeyLargo]

Uhm, I thought you were referring to Hillary supporters?

[W.]

Did you make squirrel stew?

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I wish we has some squirrels.

I wish I could send you some of ours - they're all around my house. I also wish we had some hawks that liked to eat squirrels.

[Ken H]

Did he shoot them in his pajamas?

[Let's Roll]

They weren’t in his pajamas ...

[PA Engineer]

I have numerous pileated woodpeckers on my land. They are the most amazing, interesting and gregarious specious of birds.

One morning I heard a commotion. Red squirrels had invaded an abandoned pileated nest. I watched for almost two hours as the woodpecker methodologically terrorized the pair of squirrels. They would try to attack the bird by lashing out of the hole in the tree. The woodpecker would lean backwards in defense. When the squirrels tired, the pileated would double tap, triple tap, and gazillion tap them to the heads. I had coffee squirting out of my nose. I love those birds.

The squirrels finally disappeared. My Pileated was triumphant.

I searched on the relationship between them and found there was a natural animosity with the woodpecker normally winning out. Red squirrels are far more evil than their grey brethren.

The lessons learned were many. Pileated lay down the law with red squirrels. Pileated woodpeckers are a delight to watch and sociable too. This is a definite bucket list item for those who have become jaded and bored with life.

An Ottawa photographer caught one of those battles.

Squirrel, woodpecker airborne fight captured in photos



Oil seeds and 16"Ø or larger trees will attract Pileated and keep the disease ridden vermin away.

[alexander_busek]

Please enlighten me. Why does one shoot squirrels, if not for the meat? Is it solely for the target-practice? Or are they, e.g., agricultural pests, as well?

Regards,

[Fishtalk]

I love woodpeckers of all kinds. Great anecdote.

[Smellin Salt]

I havent had a single pecan survive to ripeness in years because of squirrels. I dont like them

[anton]

Aerial rats.

[NetAddicted]

Leprosy? I guess Moshiach’s coming real soon.

[CGASMIA68]

smart, where does the slug go when it passes through the tree rat or he misses?

[Mercat]

No, they were wearing their own pajamas.