Baby squirrels, often called kits, are young wild animals that may appear orphaned or injured, triggering an urge to assist them. Like all wildlife, these small rodents can carry and transmit various pathogens to humans, a process known as zoonotic transmission. While the risk is generally lower than from animals like raccoons or skunks, squirrels are not immune to carrying bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Understanding these potential health risks is important for anyone who encounters a baby squirrel. This knowledge ensures informed and cautious interaction with these animals in their natural environment.
Primary Direct Zoonotic Threats
The most direct and serious pathogen a baby squirrel can transmit is the bacteria that causes Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever.” Squirrels are known reservoirs for Francisella tularensis and are highly susceptible to this infection, which can be fatal to the animal. Transmission to humans most often occurs through handling a sick or dead animal, or via a bite or scratch. Symptoms often include a sudden fever, chills, and the formation of a skin ulcer at the infection site, sometimes followed by swollen lymph nodes.
Rabies is another direct threat, though it is extremely rare in small rodents like squirrels. The virus attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal if left untreated. Transmission requires the virus-containing saliva of an infected animal to enter an open wound, usually through a bite. Any bite from a wild animal should be reported to health authorities, but the risk of rabies transmission from a squirrel is considered minimal.
Risks Carried by External Parasites
Baby squirrels and their nests are common hosts for external parasites, which act as vectors that can transmit pathogens to humans without direct contact with the squirrel. Ticks frequently attach to young squirrels and can carry serious bacterial diseases. If a tick drops off a squirrel and attaches to a human, it can transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Ticks can also transmit the organism causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, an illness that can lead to severe complications if not treated quickly.
Fleas are also common on squirrels and pose a risk for transmitting other bacterial infections. In specific regions, fleas carried by squirrels have been known to transmit Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the Plague.
Bacterial Risks from Waste and Contamination
A different category of risk comes from pathogens shed in the squirrel’s waste, which can contaminate the environment. Salmonellosis, a common bacterial infection, is transmitted when humans come into contact with Salmonella bacteria found in squirrel droppings. Transmission occurs through accidental ingestion or contact with surfaces soiled by feces. This can lead to gastrointestinal illness characterized by diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
Another environmental contamination risk is Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease shed through the urine of infected animals. The bacteria, Leptospira, can survive in water or moist soil for months, and humans can become infected through contact with contaminated sources. While less common in tree squirrels, the presence of urine in a nest presents a potential exposure route.
Even without specific zoonotic diseases, any bite or scratch from a squirrel can introduce common bacteria, such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, into a wound. These bacteria can lead to localized wound infections if the injury is not cleaned properly immediately.
Safe Interaction and Prevention Guidelines
The primary guideline for minimizing disease risk is to never handle a baby squirrel or any wild animal without proper protection. If a kit must be moved for its immediate safety, always wear heavy-duty gloves to create a barrier against bites, scratches, and fluid exposure. After any potential contact with a squirrel, its nest, or its waste, thorough handwashing with soap and water is mandatory.
If a bite or scratch breaks the skin, the wound should be washed immediately and vigorously with soap and running water for several minutes. Following this cleaning, medical attention should be sought promptly to assess the risk of infection, especially for potential exposure to Tularemia.
For orphaned or injured baby squirrels, the safest action is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or local animal control immediately. These professionals are equipped to provide appropriate care and reduce the risk of disease transmission. Avoid attempting to feed the animal, as incorrect feeding can cause life-threatening aspiration pneumonia.