Bubonic plague killed zoo monkey

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:01 pm

DENVER, Colorado (Reuters) -- A Denver Zoo monkey has died of bubonic plague, apparently after eating a squirrel stricken with the disease, Colorado health and zoo officials said Monday.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/21/buboni ... index.html

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:02 pm

It's a beautifully scarey story. I even wrote a poem incorporating it.

djm · Post by **djm** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:11 pm

Plague squirrels!

Not even Richard Adams could dream up anything so sick, so evil, so twisted beyond all bounds of decency. But that's the way it is with plague animals. You think you know them, you think they care and return your affection, and then suddenly they're turning their hordes of merciless fleas on you, hunting you relentlessly, infecting you over and over again in a wild, senseless orgy of buboes.

What's for lunch?

djm

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:14 pm

Fleas.

gonzo914 · Post by **gonzo914** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:53 pm

'Bubonic Monkey' -- what an excellent name for a band.

jsluder · Post by **jsluder** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:09 pm

gonzo914 wrote:'Bubonic Monkey' -- what an excellent name for a band.

Let me guess: they're the opening act for the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

missy · Post by **missy** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:22 pm

jsluder wrote:
gonzo914 wrote:'Bubonic Monkey' -- what an excellent name for a band.
Let me guess: they're the opening act for the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

And their signature song is "Squirrel Heads and Gravy".

Aanvil · Post by **Aanvil** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:37 pm

I think I have the Bucolic Plauge.

Its REALLY nice outside today.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:57 pm

ya do look a bit squirrelly

Charlene · Post by **Charlene** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:58 pm

jsluder wrote:
gonzo914 wrote:'Bubonic Monkey' -- what an excellent name for a band.
Let me guess: they're the opening act for the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Or the Mighty Squirrel: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... =142509889

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:26 pm

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:31 pm

Do monkeys usually eat squirrels? That seems a bit odd to me.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:34 pm

I think most primates (including people) are primarily or entirely vegetarian, but the occasional bug, egg, slice of cheese or squirrel family isn't unheard of.

Lambchop · Post by **Lambchop** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:41 pm

Unseen122 wrote:Do monkeys usually eat squirrels? That seems a bit odd to me.

I believe they may be what is known as "opportunistic" feeders.

Dead squirrels would be on page 1 of the menu, since they can't run away.

Rod Sprague · Post by **Rod Sprague** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:41 pm

Opportunistic omnivore is the key concept here. Jinx!