The Philippine Squirrel Was Recently Spotted in Ormoc

Yes, there are squirrels in the Philippines, and one has just been spotted earlier this month at an Energy Development Corporation in Ormoc City.

A post by Ormoc local Ronelmar Geromo Aguilar highlighted one of only two species of squirrels in Leyte, which was spotted at Tongonan, Ormoc City during a monitoring trip.

Known as Kulagsing, the Philippine tree squirrel (Sundasciurus philippinensis) comes from the Sciuridae family endemic to the country. It's a crop pest mostly found in Palawan, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and Siargao. His group has been trying to raise more awareness about them more recently.

Interestingly, even in Metro Manila, squirrels have been popping up left and right. In 2007, the first sightings of such were reported in Makati, based on information from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau.

At the University of the Philippines-Diliman during the pandemic, squirrels were also discovered roaming around the campus. But the thing is, these aren't Philippine squirrels. They're more likely an invasive species named Finlayson’s squirrel, endemic to Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.

ALSO READ:

Squirrels Have Invaded the UP Diliman Campus. Here’s Why That’s a Bad Thing

Why We Think There Are So Many Squirrels Scurrying Around Metro Manila

Here's Why You Shouldn't Keep Them As Pets

They may seem cute and all, but squirrels can actually carry diseases. They carry viruses, rabies, and parasites at times. They are also wild animals, which also means they are illegal to keep as pets at home.

Without a valid permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, people who raise them might face legal repercussions. For the ones thinking about eating them, they should know that a man in the past ate squirrels and contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. He would pass away eventually.