Local authorities in Colorado are asking residents to take precautions, including avoiding contact with sick or dead wild animals and rodents and keeping pets from roaming freely outside. Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller, Colorado Squirrel tests positive for bubonic plague. [4], Water is obtained mostly from food, but Abert's squirrels sometimes drink at stock ponds or other standing water (i.e., rain puddles).

[10], This is a common species with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

[13], In central Arizona, Abert's squirrel summer home ranges averaged 18 acres (7.3 hectares) and ranged from 10 to 24 acres (4.0 to 9.7 ha). A Division of NBCUniversal. Skinner, T. H.; Klemmedson, J. O. A squirrel has tested positive for the bubonic plague in the Town of Morrison in Colorado, Jefferson County Public Health officials announced in a statement over the weekend. It is possible for humans to be infected with the bubonic plague through bites from infected fleas and by direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals such as a cough or a bite. Abert's squirrels are one and a half to two pound grayish, reddish, or black squirrels with white undersides. They are most easily distinguished from other squirrels by their prominent ear tufts that are more prominent in the winter and may almost disappear in the summer. A squirrel in Colorado tested positive for the bubonic plague on Saturday, Jefferson County Public Health said in a news release on Sunday. In: Symposium on rare and endangered wildlife of the southwestern United States: Proceedings; 1972 September 22–23; Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seeds are eaten through the summer as the cones mature. [4] In Arizona, ponderosa pine forests are most extensive between 5,500 and 8,500 feet (1,700 and 2,600 metres) elevation.

Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Public health officials have announced that a squirrel in Colorado has tested positive for the bubonic plague. Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press.

[23] Nests are placed from 16 to 90 feet (4.9–27) above the ground, usually on a large limb against the bole, or in the forks of smaller branches.

Squirrel tests positive for plague in Colorad... Florida in the path of Eta and it could become a hurricane again, Body of missing Los Angeles firefighter found in Mexico. Their head and body is about 12 inches long, and their tail is about nine inches.

(970) 586-1206 2. Nests were most often built on the southern to southeastern side of the tree. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? However, if a black squirrel and a gray squirrel mate, it’s possible that the offspring will be brownish-black in color if they inherit the mutated pigmentation gene from the black parent. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult a physician," said JCPH. Abert's squirrels are one and a half to two pound grayish, reddish, or black squirrels with white undersides.

Hawks (Accipitridae and Falconidae) prey on Abert's squirrels in central Arizona, but even though other potential predators are present, i.e., gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), coyote (Canis latrans), there is no evidence that they prey on Abert's squirrels. [21] Eight litters were composed of two to five young each.

[16], In Colorado, Ramey found a density of 83 squirrels per square mile (30/km2) in spring 1970 but only 33 squirrels per square mile (12/km2) in spring 1971. Fort Collins, Colorado: Colorado State University. [9][10] Optimum Abert's squirrel habitat is composed of all-aged ponderosa pine stands with trees in even-aged groups, densities of 168 to 250 trees per acre (496–618/ha), and 150 to 200 square feet per acre (34.4–45.3 sq m/ha) basal area. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222. "Cats are highly susceptible to plague and may die if not treated promptly with antibiotics.

Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.

Dogs are not as susceptible to plague; however, they may pick up and carry plague-infected rodent fleas," the department said in a statement. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has compared it to the 1918 pandemic flu, which killed around 50 million people, according to the CDC. They are often active for a short time before sunrise and active for periods throughout the day, and they usually return to shelter before sunset. (1978). Through winter, the Information Office is open 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mon–Fri. Fort Collins, Colorado: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. The soft inner tissue of small apical buds is also a preferred item.

[4] Hall and Kelson, however, report that two litters are often borne per year in the southern parts of Abert's squirrel range. More on bubonic plague: China reports bubonic plague case, raises local alert level in Inner Mongolia. [4][21] Three or four young per litter is typical.

Finally, anecdotal evidence suggests that Abert's squirrels are less able to recognize cars as predators than other squirrel species, and are often killed on roads. The case comes about a week after authorities in a city in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia issued a warning after a hospital reported a case of suspected bubonic plague in a human.

[7] Subspecies distributions are as follows:[4][8], Abert's squirrels in the US make almost exclusive use of ponderosa pine for cover, nesting, and food. Abert's squirrels transplanted to the Graham and Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona have established stable populations.

Cone crops of ponderosa pine in central Arizona, including the influence of Abert squirrels. Needle clusters are clipped from the twigs, the outer bark is removed, the inner bark is consumed, and then the twig is discarded.

Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Officials advise pet owners who live near wild animal populations, or suspect their pets are ill, consult a veterinarian.

A Colorado resident was infected with the plague after a squirrel in the state tested positive for the bubonic plague — the first human case in the Centennial State since 2015. Jefferson County Public Health advised avoiding wild animals, especially those that appear sick or dead.

The squirrel feeds on the seeds and cones of the Mexican pinyon and the ponderosa pine when they are available, but will also take fungi, buds, bark, and carrion. and were 20 to 110 feet (6.1 to 33.5 m) tall. Vol. [9][20], Abert's squirrels are diurnal.

Trees less than 24 inches (61 cm) d.b.h. [2] Nonetheless, in Mexico, where much of its habitat has been logged, this species is considered 'vulnerable' by the Mexican environmental protection agency SEMARNAT and is protected. Wild mammals of North America: Biology, management, and economics. Recent droughts in the area of the park may have resulted in less food available for these specialized feeders. [19], In Durango and Chihuahua the squirrels are said to inhabit high altitude ponderosa pine stands,[9] however, the ponderosa pines of Mexico have relatively recently (since at least 1997) been reclassified as a separate species Pinus arizonica (syn.

The bubonic plague, infamous for killing millions of people in Europe during the Middle Ages, is an often fatal disease caused by bacteria. Are flying squirrels legal to have as pets in Colorado? The squirrel, discovered on Saturday, is the first case of plague in Jefferson County, the statement said.

A study published by FEBS Letters in 2014 demonstrated how a pigment gene missing a piece of DNA, can be a determinant of a eastern gray squirrel's coat.

There are several species of ground squirrels in Colorado, ranging from the spotted ground squirrel on the Eastern Plains to the rock squirrels in the mesas and canyons of Western Colorado.

Ponderosa pine trees provide not only a home but also most of the Abert's squirrel's diet in Rocky Mountain National Park. Findley, James S.; Harris, Arthur H.; Wilson, Don E.; Jones, Clyde.

While population numbers may fluctuate from year to year, these fascinating and charming squirrels are in no danger of disappearing from Rocky Mountain National Park.

In: Fisser, Herbert G., ed. (1975). Most nests are placed in the upper third of the tree crown.

In the U.S., most plague cases occur in the Southwest, including in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, the CDC says. Dogs are not as susceptible to plague, according to the statement.

[4], This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of Agriculture document: "Sciurus aberti"..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}, Hall, E. Raymond. The black coloration in eastern gray squirrels and fox squirrels is believed to both stem from a faulty pigment gene. Jefferson County Public Health said that cats are highly susceptible to the plague from things like flea bites, a rodent scratch or bite, and ingesting an infected rodent.



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