Can Squirrels in the Attic Make You Sick?

It’s unlikely that squirrels in your attic will make you sick. Squirrels aren’t known as a disease concern the way bats and raccoons are, and health officials note that small rodents like squirrels are almost never found with rabies and haven’t been known to pass it to people. The real risk squirrels bring is to the house itself: chewed wiring, damaged attic insulation and holes in the roofline.

What Health Officials Say About Rabies

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ rabies guidance for small rodents says squirrels and other small rodents are rarely found to be infected and have not been known to transmit rabies to humans. It also says health departments should be consulted after any rodent bite, so if anyone is bitten, talk to a doctor. Squirrels are wild animals, and nobody should try to handle one.

The Bigger Risk Is to Your House

Squirrels gnaw on wiring, which creates a fire risk, crush attic insulation and chew on structural beams. A squirrel that gets sealed inside by mistake can chew its way out through the ceiling and into the house. Those are the problems that come with squirrels in the attic, and they get worse the longer the squirrels stay.

Nests, Droppings and Urine Still Need to Go

Even without a disease angle, a squirrel nest, droppings and urine soaked into attic insulation aren’t something to leave above your living space. They bring odor and mess, and the attic insulation they’ve crushed or soiled doesn’t do its job anymore. We remove the nest material, clean and deodorize the area, and replace damaged attic insulation as part of the cleanup.

Make Sure It’s Only Squirrels

Here’s where health does come into it. Multiple animals can share the same attic, and the one you hear isn’t always the only one up there. Owner Mike Garrett was once the third company called to a house where the homeowner had been told they had rats. When he got into the attic, there were raccoons too, and nobody had caught it. Raccoon and bat droppings are a much bigger health concern than anything squirrels leave behind, which is why our raccoon removal and squirrel work both start with identifying every animal in the attic.

How We Handle It

The Critter Team provides squirrel removal services that cover inspection, humane trapping, cleanup, repair and exclusion. We remove the squirrels first, clean out what they left behind, repair damaged soffits, fascia boards and roof openings, and seal the house so they can’t get back in.

So Can Squirrels in the Attic Make You Sick?

It’s unlikely. Squirrels are rarely found with rabies and aren’t considered a significant disease threat the way bats and raccoons are. The real concern with squirrels in the attic is damage to wiring, attic insulation and the roofline, along with making sure squirrels are the only animals up there.