Squirrels will bite rarely and only if they are cornered or feel that they are threatened. The pests will coexist with humans without too many issues. However, the squirrel can carry or transmit diseases that may make their presence undesirable, and they can be dangerous sometimes.



- Salmonellosis is a type of bacteria that is found in their droppings, and it can cause fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
- Lyme disease is spread by the ticks found on the squirrels, and its symptoms include inflammation, stiffness and nerve pain.
- Tularemia is an unpleasant condition which can be passed on to humans by squirrels. It can cause swollen ulcers.
- Leptospirosis has different symptoms like rash, jaundice, vomiting, headaches and fever.
- Rabies is rare, but it can be passed on by squirrels sometimes to humans by scratching or biting.

Squirrels may carry these and other diseases that are communicable to humans. Common diseases known to be passed on by squirrels include louse borne typhus, tularemia, encephalitis, tick fever and plague. Squirrels can be hosts of ticks and other pests, and this contributes to the passing of some diseases. Because these diseases are fatal when they are not treated, the person has to monitor for symptoms and then seek medical attention when they get into contact with squirrel feces and urine. This is because even breathing in the particles of the animal’s excrement may also transmit the disease.

The best way for you to prevent the spread of diseases is by avoiding the squirrels and their waste. When it is a must to be in contact with them, you should put on a mask and gloves since it helps to reduce cases of contracting any illnesses. If you see a squirrel that appears to be sick or infected and it is in a residential area, you have to contact the professional wildlife services in order to remove it. The diseases from the squirrel may be transferred through bites, scratches, feces and urine. A person who is not trained should never try to handle a squirrel. The professional technician will have to remove the problematic animal, and he will sanitize the home or area to make sure that everyone who is around is safe. However, in general, squirrels do not pose too much of a health risk to humans.

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