Did you know that squirrels are one of the most common rodents found in your backyard? It may seem nice to have the cute company, but when a squirrel is sick, removing them from your home is best. The quicker you can identify the symptoms, the sooner you can protect your family from dangerous diseases.
Clear Symptoms of Sickness
Unfortunately, squirrels are susceptible to a number of diseases. How can you tell if a squirrel is sick? Here are some symptoms to look out for:
- Discharge from the eyes, mouth, or nose
- Spasms or seizures
- Lesions, rashes, or scabs
- Wheezing, shivering, coughing and or sneezing
These are signs that a squirrel is suffering from disease or infection and should be avoided at all costs.
Not So Clear Symptoms of Sickness
Even if a squirrel doesn’t show obvious signs, sickness is still a possibility. Other symptoms to look out for include:
- Lethargic behavior
- Weakness
- Skin abnormalities such as bare skin or spots
- Visible tumors
These signs can indicate internal organ infections, skin disease, bacterial infection, and even squirrel pox and also require immediate assistance.
Diseases Spread by Squirrels
Squirrels already carry a wide variety of parasites and diseases. Close proximity to a sick squirrel can increase your chances of catching Lyme disease, salmonellosis, rabies and more. Even worse, a sick squirrel can spread its illness to other critters creating an epidemic in a critter-populated area.
Diseases can be transmitted through bites or other forms of direct contact with infected squirrels. There are even some diseases, such as tularemia, typhus, and the bubonic plague that causes petechial rashes, fever, and even liver and kidney failure.
Importance of Removing Sick Squirrels from Your Home
The safest step to take after spotting a sick squirrel is to contact our experts. Critter Control® of Tampa cares for the safety of your family and your home. Our expert technicians have experience in safely removing squirrels and other nuisance critters in your backyard to give you peace of mind. Ready to keep your home safe from sick squirrels? Call us today for a free consultation.