All mammals are susceptible to the rabies virus, meaning the common belief that squirrels are immune is inaccurate. Rabies is a serious viral disease that attacks the central nervous system, ultimately leading to death once symptoms appear. However, squirrels and other small rodents are extremely unlikely to contract the virus or transmit it to humans. Public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consistently categorize squirrels as a low-risk species for rabies transmission, making an encounter with a rabid squirrel a very rare event.
Susceptibility and the Low Risk of Transmission
Squirrels are considered low-risk vectors due to their size, behavior, and the typical progression of the disease. Rabies is primarily spread through the bite of a major carrier, such as a skunk, raccoon, fox, or bat. For a squirrel to become infected, it must survive an attack from one of these primary reservoir animals.
If a squirrel is bitten, its small body size makes it vulnerable to the disease’s rapid advancement. Infected squirrels often die quickly from the initial trauma of the attack or the rapid onset of the illness. This quick demise means they typically do not survive long enough to enter the prolonged viral shedding phase necessary for effective transmission.
Confirmed cases of rabies in squirrels are exceptionally rare. While larger rodents like groundhogs occasionally test positive, squirrels have not been known to transmit the rabies virus to humans in the United States.
Identifying Rabies Symptoms in Wildlife
Recognizing the signs of rabies in a squirrel can be difficult because the symptoms are often non-specific and mimic other conditions. Rabies causes severe neurological distress, leading to behaviors that are drastically abnormal for the animal. A rabid squirrel may display uncharacteristic tameness, approaching humans or pets without fear, or show extreme, unprovoked aggression.
Other signs of severe neurological illness include disorientation, staggering, walking in circles, partial paralysis, tremors, or an inability to feed properly. These behaviors are not exclusive to rabies; they can also be symptoms of distemper, poisoning, or injury.
In squirrels specifically, symptoms similar to rabies can be caused by a brain parasite, such as a roundworm, which affects their balance and coordination. Regardless of the cause, any wild animal acting strangely or appearing sick should be avoided.
Safety Procedures Following an Encounter
If you or a pet are bitten or scratched by a squirrel, immediate and thorough wound care is the first priority. The wound should be washed vigorously with soap and running water for at least ten to fifteen minutes to flush out any potential viral particles.
Following initial first aid, contact your local health department or a healthcare provider immediately. They will assess the exposure risk based on the animal’s behavior and the prevalence of rabies in your geographic area.
For small rodents like squirrels, post-exposure prophylaxis is generally not indicated unless the bite was unprovoked and the animal was obviously sick or behaving in a bizarre manner. If the squirrel is available, local animal control may attempt to locate and test it, although testing is rarely warranted for this low-risk species. The final decision on whether to begin post-exposure treatment relies on a medical professional’s assessment of the total circumstances.