Squirrels and warbles

webs · 06-27-2008, 09:12 AM

Warbles on Squirrels can be common some years in my area.The warble which is the larvae of the Botfly, uses the Squirrel as a host for a period of about 30 days or a little more and then drops off the Squirrel and burrows in to the ground.While on the Squirrel ,it creates a horrible looking open wound.Anybody else ever see Warbles on Squirrels in your hunting area?

neophyte · 06-27-2008, 09:18 AM

webs: Sir; yes; and I thought it was the strangest thing. My uncle told me what they were and the like.
Not knowing any better until later in life; I read about the parasite. WOW.

NHmsj · 06-27-2008, 01:30 PM

Does any harm come to the squirrel? I mean during the occupation by the warble, after it departs the squirrel and before the squirrel runs into me.

msj

neophyte · 06-27-2008, 02:40 PM

NHmsj: Sir; I don't know how or if it hurts the squirrel. What I can say that I saw.
Imagine a hole bored into your arm, about the size of a ?cigarette? [maybe [probably] smaller] approximately 1/2" deep, maybe not so deep.

the one that comes to memory had 2 or 3 @ neck and ?back?

Looked nasty to me

webs · 06-27-2008, 04:08 PM

Once the Warble leaves the Squirrel it will heal up.I don't think it will kill the Squirrel or for that matter is it harmful for a human to eat the Squirrel, but I for one will not eat a Squirrel with Warbles.I have known people who do skin and clean up the infected area and indeed consume them.It seems that Warbles may be a seasonal thing that occurs in late summer or early fall.Perhaps it has something to do with the life cycle of the Botfly.States that have earlier Squirrel seasons may see more Warble infected animals.It also seems that in my area the Gray Squirrels are more apt to have Warbles than the Fox Squirrels.I have always thought that this is because the Grays have thinner hides than the Foxes.

06-27-2008, 09:12 AM	#1
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 255 Images: 3	Squirrels and warbles Warbles on Squirrels can be common some years in my area.The warble which is the larvae of the Botfly, uses the Squirrel as a host for a period of about 30 days or a little more and then drops off the Squirrel and burrows in to the ground.While on the Squirrel ,it creates a horrible looking open wound.Anybody else ever see Warbles on Squirrels in your hunting area?

06-27-2008, 09:18 AM	#2
neophyte Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,587 Blog Entries: 2	parasitacal webs: Sir; yes; and I thought it was the strangest thing. My uncle told me what they were and the like. Not knowing any better until later in life; I read about the parasite. WOW. __________________ Craig By the standards of most

06-27-2008, 01:30 PM	#3
NHmsj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 127	Does any harm come to the squirrel? I mean during the occupation by the warble, after it departs the squirrel and before the squirrel runs into me. msj __________________ "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam!" (Popeye the Sailor)

06-27-2008, 02:40 PM	#4
neophyte Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,587 Blog Entries: 2	cigarette NHmsj: Sir; I don't know how or if it hurts the squirrel. What I can say that I saw. Imagine a hole bored into your arm, about the size of a ?cigarette? [maybe [probably] smaller] approximately 1/2" deep, maybe not so deep. the one that comes to memory had 2 or 3 @ neck and ?back? Looked nasty to me __________________ Craig By the standards of most

06-27-2008, 04:08 PM	#5
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 255 Images: 3	Once the Warble leaves the Squirrel it will heal up.I don't think it will kill the Squirrel or for that matter is it harmful for a human to eat the Squirrel, but I for one will not eat a Squirrel with Warbles.I have known people who do skin and clean up the infected area and indeed consume them.It seems that Warbles may be a seasonal thing that occurs in late summer or early fall.Perhaps it has something to do with the life cycle of the Botfly.States that have earlier Squirrel seasons may see more Warble infected animals.It also seems that in my area the Gray Squirrels are more apt to have Warbles than the Fox Squirrels.I have always thought that this is because the Grays have thinner hides than the Foxes.