Dead Squirrels found on Steele Street

[localone]

Today, I disposed of two dead squirrels found in the 1600 block of Steele Street. They had been dead for several days before I saw them.

Are there other reports of dead animals in or around South City Park?

[localone]

Continuation: I called the public health hotline number provided (number given below), reported the two dead squirrels, and was told that at this time there is no report of many other findings in our zipcode. There is no indication of a plague existing at this time. As a safeguard, the points Environmental Health made last year to us are:

The messages we have consistently talked about (in coordination with CDPHE and Denver Public Health are:

1. There is minimal risk to humans in City Park or anywhere else. There would have to be physical contact between a dead animal and skin. (The fleas hop from the dead host to another one to carry the disease and humans are not their favorite target.) If humans contract plague, it is easily treated with antibiotics if caught early.

2. If you find a dead animal, contact the state hotline at 1-877-462-2911. It will be tested if it meets certain criteria, otherwise the caller will be advised to dispose of the animal by putting on gloves and putting the carcass in a plastic bag with a shovel.

3. To minimize risk to pets, pet owners should not let their animals have contact with dead rodents (or even live ones). Dogs should be on leashes in most of the parks anyway.

4. Cats are more likely to get the plague than dogs.

5. Plague exists every year in the West, the extent varies according to the rodent population.