Can You Catch a Disease from Squirrel Feces?
Squirrels may look cute but squirrel feces could cause illness if squirrels got into your house. Because humans have taken over so much land for cities and towns, today squirrels and people cohabitate the same territory. Just about every place that has trees has squirrels.
Because squirrels are so adaptable, they have no problem figuring out how to get into houses, whether it be the attic or basement route. They also can burrow their way into sheds and garages. They make good use of holes in concrete foundations and live under decks and porches. They also enter crawlspaces and nest in chimneys.
Squirrel feces is hard to spot because it is very small. Unless you have several families of squirrels defecating in the same spot you probably won’t notice them. Squirrel feces are so very small, the largest would approximate the size of a raisin. Their coloring is light brown.
Squirrels do choose one spot as a bathroom and keep the rest of the area from smelling. However, there is nothing worse than an attic or basement full of squirrels. Squirrels like the comfort of inside heat when they can find it and will store enough food for a harsh winter.
Squirrels will build nests in the insulation in the attic or between walls. Female squirrels seek hidden places to hide their babies from predators. Vents are very popular. Squirrels, like mice, can make a mess of whatever space they enter. They can chew up everything made of paper or cloth and they especially like to chew on wiring.
Squirrel feces will be scattered all over the place and they will tear apart boxes and mutilate boards. Because squirrels eat a lot of seeds, nuts, and fruits, they can make a space a mess in no time by dropping these bits everywhere. If normal food items are in short supply, city squirrels have no problems finding tasty foods in dumpsters.
If squirrels have gotten into your house or shed once, they will do it again year after year until their path is blocked. They will also attract friends and bring them to visit--other rodents like mice and rats as well as insects, bats, and squirrel predators.
Squirrels are usually friendly to people but if you should disturb a nest or food supply, you could be bitten. If you have a dog or cat that loves to chase squirrels, they could also be injured as a squirrel will attack in self-defense if they cannot run away fast enough.
Squirrels will contaminate any inside area to which they have access. If one should die in a wall or attic, you will definitely have the smell of him decomposing for some time. Although a squirrel does not carry the hantavirus, as many people falsely believe, they do carry rabies, powassan virus and tick fever.
The best thing to do if you find squirrel feces in your home is to take immediate action in getting rid of the squirrels. Even if you love squirrels, the destruction they can do to a building is immense. Whatever area they enter will be smelly and covered with squirrel feces, urine, food bits, and torn up wood and paper products. They will destroy all of the insulation in the walls and tear down electrical wires to chew. Raccoons will find their way inside to prey on the squirrels and rats will enter to eat the squirrels’ hidden food.
There are companies you can call to get rid of squirrels and pests who have entered your home or other buildings. You can find some who practice humane removal and will catch your squirrels and take them to the country to be released. This is the best answer if you have a problem with squirrels. Some of these workers also do whatever is necessary to close the holes and keep the squirrels from getting inside again.