Animal rescue sends urgent warning to anyone thinking about helping squirrels infected by disturbing parasite

An animal rescue center in the US has cautioned anyone who might be tempted to try and help squirrels with 'unusual looking skin lumps', warning it's likely the result of a parasite.

Just days after rabbits with so-called 'tentacles' growing out of their heads were spotted in the US, Americans have to prepare for another sight: swollen squirrels.

We're not just talking about a creature that's eaten a few too many nuts and seeds here, but rather one covered with lumps and bumps, often protruding out from their fur.

Over the last few years, the non-profit organization Evelyn's Wildlife Refuge in Virginia has issued annual warnings to Facebook users in the fast-approaching autumn months, explaining that squirrels may have these lumps because they are unknowingly carrying a parasite which 'tunnels through the flesh, causing swollen protrusions'.

Botflies cause obvious protrusions on the squirrel's body (Getty Stock Photo)

This parasite is known as a botfly, which refers to any fly in the Oestridae family.

Squirrels are some of the most 'visible' hosts, Evelyn Wildlife Refuge explains; however, other animals, including dogs, cats, raccoons, rabbits, and chipmunks, may also be infested with bot flies.

The animals become infected when they come into contact with a botfly egg, which then attaches itself to its fur and hatches larvae which burrow under the skin or, in some cases, through the nose or mouth.

Once inside the host, the larvae begin to grow, resulting in the protrusions visible on the skin. When the botfly is finished growing, it pops out of the lump and falls to the ground, where it buries itself in soil before emerging as an adult.

All sounds pretty horrendous, right? Well, the good news is that botflies don't usually kill their hosts. However, Evelyn's has warned that only skilled experts should attempt to remove bots.

Evelyn's Wildlife Rescue urged people not to help infected squirrels (Facebook/Evelyn's Wildlife Rescue)

In its most recent post, the rescue center said: "Something that is VERY important. Only skilled rehabbers or vets should attempt to extract bots. If the larvae's body is compromised inside the host, anaphylactic shock and possible death is possible. These guys have something like legs that will "dig in" the host in an effort to prevent removal. Caution should still be exercised during removal even if the bot is dead."

Evelyn's also shared a picture of a squirrel with squirrel pox to identify the difference between the two health issues, with squirrel pox often passed between squirrels at feeders and causing smaller bumps on the body of the squirrel before clearing up on its own in time.