Finding a deceased squirrel unexpectedly often prompts questions about the cause of such a swift demise in a seemingly healthy wild animal. Determining the exact cause of death in wildlife is difficult, as various high-impact events and acute health crises can lead to a sudden collapse. A death that appears “sudden” to an observer usually points to an event resulting in immediate physical failure or a rapidly progressing systemic breakdown. These causes range from blunt force trauma to swift-acting toxins or an overwhelming infectious process.
Fatal Injuries and Accidents
One of the most frequent causes of a squirrel’s sudden death is high-velocity trauma from environmental hazards. Vehicle strikes are a major source of mortality in urban and suburban squirrel populations, often resulting in instant death due to massive blunt force injury. While some cases show obvious external signs, internal hemorrhaging or severe organ damage may be the sole cause of death.
Accidental falls from tall trees or structures also contribute to sudden death, particularly in younger individuals, leading to fractures or fatal head trauma. Squirrels may suffer immediate death from electrocution when they chew on power lines, resulting in rapid cardiac arrest or severe burns. Entanglement in garden netting or fencing can also lead to a swift death from strangulation or exhaustion.
Sudden Collapse from Infectious Disease
Certain pathogens can trigger a rapid decline culminating in sudden death, often without prolonged sickness. The bacterial disease Tularemia, caused by Francisella tularensis, causes quick fatalities in squirrels and other rodents. Infected squirrels may appear lethargic before death, and post-mortem examination sometimes reveals no typical lesions, making diagnosis challenging. Tularemia is a zoonotic concern, transmissible to humans through direct contact, insect bites, or inhaling contaminated dust.
Squirrel Pox, while often causing visible external lesions, can lead to a rapid terminal decline, especially in red squirrels, which typically die within 10 to 15 days of infection. The virus causes large, swollen lesions around the eyes and mouth that can lead to blindness, preventing the animal from feeding or avoiding predators. Other severe bacterial infections, such as fatal bronchopneumonia or Toxoplasmosis, can overwhelm a squirrel’s system, leading to organ failure and sudden death. Rabies is extremely uncommon in squirrels, but any wildlife exhibiting unusual, aggressive, or paralyzed behavior should be treated with caution.
Accidental Exposure to Toxins
The ingestion of chemical agents, particularly man-made poisons, can cause a sudden internal crisis. Anticoagulant rodenticides, commonly used to control rats and mice, frequently cause accidental poisoning in non-target species like squirrels. These poisons block the body’s ability to recycle Vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting. The fatal effect of internal bleeding often appears delayed, sometimes three to five days after consumption, making the eventual death seem sudden.
Other toxins, like the non-anticoagulant bromethalin, are neurotoxins that cause rapid neurological symptoms, including seizures and respiratory paralysis shortly after ingestion. Squirrels may also be exposed to environmental contaminants like pesticides or herbicides found in treated lawns, though their effects are more variable and less predictable than rodenticides.
What to Do After Finding a Deceased Squirrel
Handling deceased wildlife requires specific safety precautions to protect against potential zoonotic disease transmission. Avoid touching the animal with bare skin; use disposable gloves or an inverted plastic bag when moving the carcass. Thoroughly washing hands with soap and water afterward is recommended, even if gloves were worn.
Small carcasses found on private property can typically be disposed of by double-bagging them and placing them in household trash, following local municipal guidelines. Burial is an option, requiring a hole at least two feet deep and a location away from water sources to prevent contamination. If multiple dead animals are found or if disease is suspected, contact local animal control or your state’s department of natural resources for reporting and testing.