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Diseases Squirrels Can Transmit to Humans: What You Need to Know

Squirrels are a common sight in many urban and suburban areas of Virginia, often seen darting across parks and rummaging through gardens. While these agile creatures can be entertaining to watch, it’s essential to recognize that they can carry diseases that pose risks to humans. In this blog post, we’ll explore the diseases that squirrels can transmit, how these diseases spread, and what precautions you can take to protect yourself.

1. Lyme Disease

One of the most well-known diseases linked to squirrels is Lyme disease. While the primary carriers are ticks, squirrels can harbor these ticks and act as hosts. If a tick infested with Lyme bacteria bites a human, it can lead to serious health issues.

Symptoms: Early signs include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to more severe complications affecting joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

2. Salmonella

Squirrels can also be carriers of Salmonella bacteria, which is often spread through contaminated food or water. If squirrels come into contact with your garden produce or pet food, they can leave behind traces of this bacteria.

Symptoms: Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. In some cases, it can lead to severe illness, especially in young children and the elderly.

3. Hantavirus

Hantavirus is another serious disease associated with rodent populations, including squirrels. The virus is typically spread through contact with droppings, urine, or saliva of infected animals.

Symptoms: Early symptoms may include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, followed by shortness of breath and coughing. Hantavirus can lead to a severe respiratory disease known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

4. Leptospirosis

This bacterial disease can be transmitted through contact with water contaminated by the urine of infected animals, including squirrels. Activities like swimming or wading in contaminated water can increase your risk.

Symptoms: Leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild flu-like signs to severe illness affecting the liver and kidneys.

5. Tularemia

Though less common, tularemia can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or bites from infected insects. Squirrels can be carriers of the bacterium that causes this disease.

Symptoms: Symptoms of tularemia include sudden fever, chills, headaches, and skin ulcers.

These diseases can be severe if untreated. It’s crucial to seek medical attention if you’ve been in contact with squirrel excrement, as inhalation is a common transmission route.

How Do Squirrels Transmit These Diseases?

Squirrels primarily transmit diseases through:

• Direct Contact: Bites or scratches from an infected squirrel.
• Indirect Contact: Exposure to urine, droppings, or nesting materials.
• Vectors: Ticks and fleas that may feed on squirrels and then bite humans.

Precautions to Take

To minimize the risk of disease transmission from squirrels:

1. Avoid Direct Contact: Do not attempt to handle or feed squirrels, especially in urban areas.

2. Secure Food Sources: Keep pet food indoors and cover trash bins to deter squirrels from scavenging.

3. Maintain Cleanliness: Regularly clean your garden and remove any squirrel droppings. Wear gloves when cleaning to avoid direct contact.

4. Seal Entry Points: Ensure that your home is sealed against wildlife by closing gaps in your roof, walls, and foundation.

5. Consult Professionals: If you have a squirrel infestation or find dead squirrels on your property, consider contacting pest control professionals to handle the situation safely.

Squirrel Parasites

Squirrels host pests like fleas, ticks, and mites, which can spread diseases to humans, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia.

Preventing Squirrel-Related Diseases:

To reduce the risk of illness, avoid contact with squirrels and their droppings. Wear gloves and masks during infestations.

Choose Professional Squirrel Control:

Handling squirrels can be risky due to their wild nature and potential to spread disease through bites and scratches.

For squirrel issues, contact our professional wildlife removal services. Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services technicians are skilled in safe, humane squirrel removal. Post-removal, they can use ectoparasite treatments and sanitization agents to eliminate fleas, ticks, mites, and disinfect contaminated areas.

Conclusion

While squirrels can be delightful to observe, it’s crucial to remain aware of the potential health risks they pose. By understanding the diseases that squirrels can transmit and taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from these health hazards. Stay informed, stay safe, and enjoy the natural beauty around you responsibly!

If you found this post helpful, share it with others who might benefit from this information. For more tips on wildlife safety, subscribe to our blog!

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If you’re dealing with a rodent problem, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our rodent removal service near me is always ready to assist you.

📞 Call Us: (804) 457-2883

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Don’t let squirrels and other rodents rule your home. Trust Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services for all your rodent removal needs in Virginia. Get in touch with us today!

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From gray squirrels to flying squirrels, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services will remove squirrels of all types and prevent them from entering your home and business. We are Virginia’s animal control, wildlife removal and pest control specialists.

Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services provides residential and commercial nuisance squirrel trapping, squirrel removal, squirrel control, squirrel damage repairs and squirrel exclusion for Virginia and surrounding areas.

Animal Sounds In My Attic, Walls, Ceilings Or Crawlspace? What Type Of Animal Could It Be?

If you are hearing animal sounds in your attic, walls, ceilings or crawlspace we can help. Our local animal removal and pest control specialist are professionally trained to help you address all of your animal control needs throughout most of Virginia including the Henrico, Glen Allen, Richmond, Midlothian and Charlottesville Virginia areas. We are considered Virginia squirrel removal experts. Call us today at (804) 457-2883.

Service Areas for Squirrel Removal in Virginia

We offer squirrel removal, trapping, management, capture and control services throughout Virginia in the following cities, towns and counties: Afton, Albemarle, Alexandria, Amelia County, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Ashland, Barboursville, Bellwood, Belmont, Bensley, Bermuda Hundred, Bon Air, Boyd Tavern, Brandermill, Bumpass, Burke, Central VA, Centreville, Chamberlain, Charlottesville, Charlottesville VA, Chesapeake, Chester, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Crozet, Cuckoo, CVille, Dale City, Doswell, Dumbarton, Earlysville, East Highland Park, Enon, Ettrick, Fairfax, Fair Oaks, Ferncliff, Fluvanna, Fredericksburg, Genito, Glen Allen, Glenora, Goochland, Gordonsville, Gum Spring, Hadensville, Hampton, Hampton Park, Hampton Roads, Hanover, Harrisonburg, Harrogate, Hening, Henrico, Highland Springs, Hopewell, Innsbrook, James City County, Jefferson Davis, Kents Store, Keswick, Lake Anna, Lake Monticello, Lake Ridge, Lakeside, Laurel, Leesburg, Lewiston, Lignum, Locust Grove, Louisa, Maidens, Manakin, Manakin-Sabot, Manassas, Manchester, McLean, Montrose, Motoaca, Meadowbrook, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Mineral, Moseley, Newport News, Norfolk, North Courthouse, North Garden, Northern Virginia, NoVA, Oilville, Orange, Palmyra, Pantops, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Powhatan, Reams, Reston, Richmond, Richmond County, Robious, Rockville, Rockwood, RVA, Salisbury, Sandston, Sandy Hook, Scottsville, Shannon Hill, Short Pump, South Rockwood, Spring Run, Staunton, Stoney Point, Suffolk, Tidewater, Troy, Tuckahoe, Va, Varina, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro, West End, Williamsburg, Winchester, Winterpock, Woodlake, and Wyndham.

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VPWRS Extensive Services

Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services provides nuisance wildlife removal, animal control, predator control, pest control, nuisance wildlife exclusion, and wildlife clean-up services.

We have experience handling bats, beavers, birds, Canada geese, chipmunks, coyotes, deer, foxes, groundhogs, mice, moles, raccoons, rats, opossums, otters, skunks, squirrels, snakes, voles, muskrats, bobcats, Copperhead snakes, pigeons, and other species of Virginia wildlife.

We operate our business within accepted industry standards and best practices, and in accordance with local, state, and federal laws.