But recent photos and videos circulating on Reddit and Facebook have left animal lovers horrified, showing squirrels with grotesque lumps covering their bodies.

One concerned Reddit user posted a photo of a squirrel in late July, admitting at first they thought the critter “had been eating something,” but quickly realized the mass was “on its face.” They pleaded: “Any ideas what is going on with this little fella?”

It turns out, the unsettling answer is a naturally occurring disease known as squirrel pox — also called squirrel fibromatosis — and experts say it’s more common than most people realize.

Confirm the disease but urge caution

In 2023, residents in Maine reported seeing squirrels with oozing sores and scaly growths.

Wildlife biologist Shevenell Webb from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife assured locals that the condition would “run its