You probably see squirrels all the time, but have you ever wondered what actually makes them sick? Spotting a struggling squirrel isn’t always easy. Poor diet, parasites like mange, bacterial infections, and injuries usually make squirrels ill. If you catch the signs early, you can protect them—and maybe your family too. Let’s get into the most common causes and what to do if you notice a squirrel looking off.
You’ll notice changes in a squirrel’s health by watching for things like hair loss, wobbling, eye discharge, or just weird behavior. Some practical tips can help you figure out when to call a wildlife rehabilitator, how to keep a safe distance, and what you can do in your own yard to lower disease risk.
Key Causes of Sickness in Squirrels
Let’s break down why squirrels get sick and how those issues show up. If you know about certain parasites, bacteria, viruses, or even dangers humans create, you’ll spot sick squirrels faster and know how to stay safe.
Common Parasitic Infections
Parasites like ticks, fleas, and mites make squirrels miserable. Mites that cause notoedric mange dig into the skin, leading to crazy itching, scabs, and patches of missing fur. You might see a squirrel with rough, crusty skin, scratching a lot, or a coat that looks ragged.
Heavy flea or tick infestations can cause anemia in young or small squirrels and sometimes spread other diseases. Internal parasites, like worms and coccidia, can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, and weakness. If you ever feed or handle wild squirrels, put on gloves and wash your hands afterward. If you notice a bunch of mangy squirrels in one area, let your local wildlife authorities know.
Major Bacterial Diseases
Bacteria often get into squirrels through wounds, dirty food, or other rodents. Salmonellosis brings on diarrhea, dehydration, and sluggishness. It can even spread to people if you touch squirrel droppings or contaminated surfaces.
Leptospirosis doesn’t happen as often, but it’s nasty—it spreads through urine, usually in wet places, and can cause fever or organ issues. Tularemia, which ticks, rabbits, and rodents can carry, causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, and sometimes sudden death in squirrels. Don’t touch dead wildlife and keep pets away from squirrel carcasses. If you find several sick or dead squirrels in one place, reach out to public health or wildlife officials.
Viral Threats to Squirrels
A few viruses target squirrels, with squirrel pox and, though rarely, rabies being the main ones. Squirrel pox causes skin bumps, scabby sores, and sometimes other infections. In red squirrels, pox can lead to trouble eating or moving, which hurts their numbers.
Rabies in squirrels is super rare, but it can happen. A rabid squirrel might act strangely, get aggressive, or drool a lot. Never try to handle a squirrel acting weird. If you or your pet gets bitten, get medical help right away. Keep your pets vaccinated and on a leash to avoid run-ins with wildlife.
Environmental and Human-Related Hazards
Humans, honestly, cause a lot of squirrel problems. Feeding them too much birdseed, bread, or junk food leads to malnutrition and weakens their immune systems. Pesticides and rodenticides poison squirrels directly or through what they eat, causing tremors, seizures, or sometimes sudden death.
When people cut down trees, squirrels lose their homes and end up in risky places like roads or backyards with dogs. If someone disturbs a nest in spring, baby squirrels might get cold or starve. You can help by locking up your trash, using squirrel-proof feeders, and skipping rodent poisons that hurt wildlife. If you want more info, check out this guide to common squirrel ailments.
How to Recognize and Respond to Sick Squirrels
You can spot illness in squirrels by paying attention to how they act, their body condition, and any trouble with skin or breathing. If you see a problem, act quickly but safely: keep your distance, get your pets inside, and call a wildlife rehabilitator if the squirrel looks like it needs help.
Signs and Symptoms of Illness
Watch how active the squirrel is. A sick squirrel might just sit there, barely moving, or seem wobbly and slow. Healthy ones dart around and stay alert, so if you see one acting sluggish or off-balance, it’s usually a warning sign.
Take a look at its fur and skin. Bald spots, scabs, or crusty patches often mean mange or maybe a fungal infection. You might notice lumps or sores on the face or feet—those could be pox or even tumors.
Breathing and posture tell you a lot, too. If a squirrel breathes hard, tilts its head, or drools, it might have a lung infection, brain parasite, or even an injury. Keep an eye out for wounds, bleeding, or a dragging limb.
Dehydration and malnutrition show up as sunken eyes, a thin frame, dull fur, or a squirrel that keeps falling over. If you notice these, the squirrel really needs help fast.
What to Do If You Spot a Sick Squirrel
Stay back and keep pets and kids away. Don’t try to pick up or handle the squirrel—wild ones bite and can carry diseases or parasites.
If the squirrel looks badly hurt or can’t move, call a wildlife rehabilitator or animal control. When you call, mention where you saw the squirrel, what it was doing, and any symptoms you noticed. That info helps the responder prepare.
If you absolutely have to move the squirrel for safety, wear thick gloves, grab a towel, and gently place it in a box with holes and a soft cloth. Keep the box warm and quiet, away from pets, until someone can help.
Skip the cow’s milk and people food. Only offer plain water if the squirrel is alert enough to drink—otherwise, wait for the pros to check for dehydration or injuries.
Tips for Preventing Squirrel Illness
Keep feeders and bird baths clean. I always scrub them with a mild bleach solution and rinse them really well—nobody wants to spread parasites or fungus if it can be helped.
Try not to let squirrels crowd together at feeding spots. I like to use a few feeders and spread the food out so they don’t get too close and pass diseases around.
Keep an eye on rodents and insects, since they can carry illness. I usually secure the trash, stash pet food safely, and do what I can to get rid of standing water—fleas and mosquitoes love that stuff.
If you notice a bunch of sick squirrels in one area, let your local wildlife agency know. Reporting it early might help catch outbreaks like pox or mange before they get out of hand.
