Beware the picnic plague
This release from the U.S. Forest Service may make you think twice before trying to make a pet out of that squirrel in your backyard. Technically, the area they're referring to in the press release isn't really in the coverage area, but it may be a place readers have gone to on hikes. The Forest Service has re-opened two picnic areas in Big Tujunga Canyon on the Angeles National Forest, after closing the picnic areas because of a threat of the plague - a plague carried by pesky squirrels. I thought we did away with the plague sometime in the Middle Ages, but apparently not. Check out the release from the Forest Service:
On July 10th, a ground squirrel in Stonyvale Picnic Area was found to be the carrier of fleas which tested positive for the plague. The squirrel was one of twelve that was trapped in the area during routine monitoring. The two sites were closed as a precaution until the area was treated and re-tested. Preventive "dusting" of squirrel burrows in the area ended Monday and the Forest Service received the go-ahead to reopen the areas.
Check out the whole release here.