Rabies in squirrels is extraordinarily rare, and no person in the United States has ever contracted rabies from a squirrel. Between 2011 and 2020, only 2 out of 6,195 eastern grey squirrels tested by the CDC came back positive for the virus. That said, if a squirrel is acting strangely and you’re wondering whether rabies could be the cause, there are specific signs to look for and a few other explanations that are far more likely.
Why Squirrels Almost Never Have Rabies
Rodents as a group are considered low-risk for rabies. Across all rodent and lagomorph species tested from 2011 to 2020, only 1.8% tested positive, compared to 10% of wildlife overall. Raccoons, by contrast, tested positive at a rate of 13.1%. The World Health Organization states flatly that bites from rodents are not known to transmit rabies to humans.
The leading explanation is simple: squirrels are small prey animals. An encounter with a rabid predator like a raccoon, fox, or bat is far more likely to kill the squirrel outright than to leave it alive and infected. A squirrel that survives a bite from a rabid animal is the exception, not the rule. And even in that rare scenario, the squirrel would need to survive long enough for the virus to reach its brain and salivary glands before it could theoretically pass rabies to anything else.
Signs of Rabies in Any Wild Animal
Rabies causes progressive brain damage, and the symptoms look similar across species. The two most reliable indicators are a sudden change in behavior and unexplained progressive paralysis. In a squirrel, that could look like:
- Unusual aggression. A normally skittish squirrel that charges at people or animals unprovoked. This is the “furious” form of rabies, where the animal becomes hyperexcitable and may bite at anything nearby.
- Loss of coordination. Stumbling, wobbling, falling over, or moving in circles. The virus attacks the central nervous system, so movement becomes increasingly uncontrolled.
- Paralysis. One side of the body may go limp, or the hind legs may drag. Paralysis typically starts in one area and spreads. A squirrel with a paralyzed jaw may appear to be drooling or unable to eat.
- No fear of humans. A squirrel that approaches you in a park because people feed it there is not abnormal. A squirrel that walks directly toward you in an unusual setting, seemingly unaware of your presence, is more concerning.
- Altered vocalizations. Rabies can change the sounds an animal makes, producing unusual or strained calls.
These symptoms progress over days. Rabies is not a sudden-onset illness. An animal that appears fine one moment and collapses the next likely has something else going on.
What’s More Likely Than Rabies
Most squirrels that look “rabid” actually have one of several common conditions that mimic the symptoms. These are worth knowing because they’re the explanation in the vast majority of cases.
Vestibular Disease
Inner ear infections or inflammation can throw off a squirrel’s balance system, producing a pronounced head tilt, circling, falling to one side, and rapid involuntary eye movements. This looks alarming and can easily be mistaken for neurological damage from rabies. The difference is that vestibular disease doesn’t cause aggression or progressive paralysis. The squirrel may look drunk but will typically try to flee if approached.
Head Trauma
Squirrels get hit by cars, fall from trees, and collide with windows. A squirrel with a concussion or brain swelling may stagger, seem confused, or lie still in the open. Again, this looks like neurological disease but lacks the progressive worsening and behavioral aggression associated with rabies.
Poisoning
Squirrels that have ingested rodenticide or toxic plants can show disorientation, tremors, and lethargy. These symptoms can come on quickly, unlike rabies, which develops over a period of days to weeks after exposure.
Mange and Skin Infections
Squirrels with severe mange lose fur in patches, develop crusty or swollen skin, and may appear lethargic. The visual can be startling, but mange is a skin parasite issue, not a neurological one. A mangy squirrel that is otherwise alert and moving normally is not displaying signs of rabies.
Babies and Juveniles
Young squirrels that have fallen from a nest or been orphaned sometimes approach humans. They may seem disoriented, slow, or unusually tame. This is desperation, not disease. A baby squirrel following you is looking for help, not trying to bite you.
What to Do if a Squirrel Bites You
Even though squirrel rabies is essentially a non-issue in the U.S., a bite from any wild animal deserves attention. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least five minutes. This alone significantly reduces infection risk from bacteria, which is the real concern with squirrel bites.
The CDC recommends that bites from rodents be evaluated on a case-by-case basis depending on local conditions and the circumstances of the encounter. In practice, most squirrel bites do not lead to a recommendation for rabies treatment. Your local health department can perform a risk assessment specific to your area. If there’s any question about the squirrel’s behavior, such as unprovoked aggression or obvious neurological symptoms, that context matters and is worth reporting.
What to Do About a Strange-Acting Squirrel
Don’t attempt to touch, capture, or corner the animal. Even a non-rabid squirrel in distress can bite hard enough to cause a serious wound, and squirrel bites carry a real risk of bacterial infection regardless of rabies status. Keep children and pets away.
If the squirrel is in a public area and behaving in a way that concerns you, contact your local animal control. They can assess the situation and, if needed, safely capture the animal for testing. Rabies can only be definitively confirmed through a laboratory test on brain tissue, so there is no way to diagnose it just by watching an animal’s behavior. The signs described above raise suspicion, but they overlap with many other conditions that are far more common in squirrels.