Vets scratch heads over bald squirrel Smoothie

Staff at a wildlife centre have been baffled over the appearance of a completely bald squirrel.

Vets at St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Aylesbury are trying to establish how and why the male, who was found in Amersham, lost all his fur.

Bald squirrels are not that uncommon but the hair loss is usually because the animal is suffering from mange, an illness caused by mites.

But vets at St Tiggywinkles, who have nicknamed their new patient Smoothie, have no idea why he is bald, apart from few tufts of fur on his tail. He is undergoing tests and is being kept warm and dry while feasting on his favourite treat of pecan nuts.