We are avid backyard bird feeders. So we also have squirrels. We enjoy watching the squirrels in our yard. Our feeders are squirrel proof but they clean up under the feeders. We have one squirrel that has no hair on his back around his neck. Can it be mange and what should be done? He is eating well but he looks bad without all his fur?

Thanks, LJ

The hair loss you have observed might be a result of several conditions. Notoedric mange caused by a mite, Notoedres douglasi, which is host specific to squirrels, might be one possibility. Sometimes the hair loss can be fatal due to exposure in the winter. However, full recovery of the squirrel has been observed in many cases. There are also several superficial fungal diseases that can cause hair loss. Squirrels will often develop a an immune response to these infections, recover and regrow their hair. Treatment for either condition is not practical for wild squirrels. If it is still eating well at your feeder, that may be a sign that its immune system is functioning well, and perhaps on its way to recovery. Feel free to contact me if you have additional questions.

I too have noticed two squirrels in my back yard with several bald spots on their bodies. One of them in particular has an open wound on its face; I recall seeing the scab a couple of weeks back but now it is bloody and pretty ugly... Would you say that it is the same issue?

Probably so. You can't be sure without testing them.

for balding squirrells

Dermatophytosis is caused by a fungus that attacks the shaft of the hair where it emerges from the skin. Since it attacks the hair and causes it to become brittle, the hair breaks off at the skin line and falls off leaving a bald area, but no obvious skin irritation. This condition is common in late Winter and early Spring. The treatment is nutritional support. It's usually not fatal and the squirrel will recover from it over time. Feeding squirrels chunks of raw coconut and raw coconut oil can help, because the Lauric Acid and Capric Acid in the raw coconut oil is anti-fungal.

Could these squirrels have ringworm? Or could any of the things you're talking about with fungal infection be carried into the house and transmitted to us or the dogs or our pet rabbit? We have two squirrels outside the door right now at the feeder who have bald patches and we're concerned.

If they do not appear to have wrinkled, crusty-looking skin, it is likely a fungal infection. Unless you or the pets have direct contact with the squirrels (which seems unlikely) you don't need to worry.

We also feed the birds and squirrels but are very worried about one squirrel in particular. He seems to be suffering from some neurological issue. He is very unsteady on his feet, wobbles back and forth while eating, excessive scratching, some patches of hair loss and now little white lumps on the ears. He seems to be have good days and bad days but is progressively getting worse. I know you can't medicate a wild squirrel, but any ideas what this could be or anything we could put out (like the coconut) to try and help?

If anyone near you has a squirrel proof bird feeder or one of those sparrow feeders with the round holes, those skin problems are most likely caused by the feeders. Squirrels in our yard has the gray skin patches, open wounds on their shoulders and backs, even embedded seeds in their shoulder skin.... we finally realized the wound occurred when squirrels reached so far into the holes to get to seeds in bottom of these feeders. Worse injuries caused by squirrel proof feeders with the little metal "flips". Even saw a cardinal cut its leg off trying to extract it's foot from the metal "flip" squirrel feeder. I witnesses these injuries from my office window. Needless to say, we threw that feeder in the trash. All such feeders should be banned from the market.