Several squirrels have died near downtown Colorado Springs and public health officials suspect plague to be the cause.
The squirrels, found in Patty Jewett and Divine Redeemer neighborhoods, were tested for the disease and results are expected in coming days, a news release from El Paso County Public Health said.
The news comes two days after the health department discovered a squirrel on Colorado College s campus that likely had the disease.
El Paso County Public said the disease is not uncommon among rodents and small mammals during cooler summer months after wet winters.
Colorado surpassed average levels of precipitation by an inch during the past six months, a recent Gazette article reported.