Squirrel Disease ID

[47thGARBB]

I shot two squirrels this morning that have some odd skin conditions (Beyond the shotgun pellet holes). The squirrels sweated a little bit in the bag, that's why they are wet.They both exhibit bumpy, uneven skin in isolated locations with patchy fur around the bumps. Are these botflies? Is it something completely different? If these wound up not being edible they will likely be converted into catfish bait.

 

[Kahrnut]

Warbles and Wolves – Friends of Congaree Swamp https://share.google/hAqNXDvSm0gyU9GI0

 

[Pighunter0319]

It had warbles aka bot fly larvae like Kahrnut said. Nothing wrong with it. They'll have them until it gets colder out.

 

[basstracker89]

Really best to wait till after a few frost. Then no worries

 

[BIKER13]

Wolves and yes botfly larvae.

 

[wildbill1973z28]

I shot two squirrels this morning that have some odd skin conditions (Beyond the shotgun pellet holes). The squirrels sweated a little bit in the bag, that's why they are wet.They both exhibit bumpy, uneven skin in isolated locations with patchy fur around the bumps. Are these botflies? Is it something completely different? If these wound up not being edible they will likely be converted into catfish bait. View attachment 9344346View attachment 9344347View attachment 9344348

Not sure if memory is correct, but it’s from a fly lay its egg there. If you can find the maggot that’s in the hole. It’s better eating than the squirrel.

 

[47thGARBB]

Really best to wait till after a few frost. Then no worries

Yeah it's not the ideal time of the season but I've been dying to get out. Just can't wait sometimes

 

[47thGARBB]

I got both squirrels cleaned and interestingly enough, the meat on both was pretty clean. Not much evidence of the larvae having dug in. They must have been old larvae wounds that healed over or something like that.

Sadly though I shot one at a little too close range for the full choke and really peppered it up with shot. I got the hind quarters off of it, but the backstraps and chest were decimated. Lesson learned.

 

[basstracker89]

Yeah it's not the ideal time of the season but I've been dying to get out. Just can't wait sometimes

Well, crunch crunch as you eat them........

 

[yellowhammer]

Many moons ago, on a frosty morning, I watched the worm come out of a squirrel, and bore a hole in the ground and disappear into it. Yep, you can eat the squirrel, just looks nasty. I will wait til the first frost to kill one, though. You normally don`t see "wolves" this early. Usually the end of Sept.