By Frank Hoehle

Mange is a skin disease caused by a mite, strangely enough called, the mange mite.

The two usual diseases caused are: Sarcoptic-caused by Sarcoptes Scabiei, Notoderic-caused by Notodres Centrifera

Both forms are all throughout North America.

Scientists differ on the specificity of the disease, some believe that is is species specific, while others believe that it is cross-species transmissible, i.e. fox to dog.

By direct contact such as animals huddling in a burrow, or encountering each other in everyday contact.

Sarcoptic-thinning and loss of hair. Wrinkling of skin with scabbing and crusting. Fox exhibit these the most virulently with wet excretions of the head and body.

Notoderic-Hair loss, skin becomes thick and dark, and eventually entire body becomes bare. Squirrels do not develop crusting, but do generally go bald.

Mange is a serious disease with fox seemingly hit the hardest by it. In fox, it causes difficulty eating seeing and hearing, which in turn causes emaciation, and eventually death.

Squirrels have been known to spontaneously recover, regrowing hair where bald patches were, and making a full recovery in many cases.

Mange is diagnosed by looking at skin scrapings from infected animals under a microscope.