Hawks and squirrels

Photo courtesy of PaleMale.com - February 17, 2009

Two long-time correspondents of this website have sent in letters, one inquiring about the Fifth Ave. Hawks, and the other with a worrisome report about local squirrels.

1.

Liz Rhoads writes:
. . . Just wondering how our two love birds, Pale Male and Lola are doing? Isn't this the time they work on their nest to prepare for a new brood? Maybe this will be the comeback year. Let's hope so. Best regards, Liz Rhoades

Dear Liz, The photo above answers your question. The closely-watched pair are adding twigs to their old nest on Fifth and 74th St. Incubation will probably begin in about two weeks, give or take a day or two. All fingers are crossed.

2.

Lysiane Ribeiro M.D. has sent in pictures of some unfortunate squirrels she has seen in Riverside Park. I haven't seen any similarly afflicted squirrels in Central Park, (just a few blocks east of Riverside Park), but perhaps others have. Please let me know.

[PS In case the direct e-mail connection on this blog does not work, my e-mail address is Winnmarie@earthlink.net]

Marie,

About a month ago I sent you a picture of the hairless squirrels I have been seeing in Riverside Park.


Well this is what some of them are looking like now and I do think it is Mange and the variant (scabies) that is transmittable to humans, unfortunately. :(




But according to the Mayo Clinic: Each species of mite prefers one specific type of host and doesn't live long away from that preferred host. So humans may have a temporary skin reaction from contact with the animal scabies mite. But people are unlikely to develop full-blown scabies from this source, as they might from contact with the human scabies mite.

Here is a link with more information about Mange.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-26949--,00.html