Squirrels are some of the most commonly seen backyard wildlife. With their bushy tails and energetic antics, many people enjoy seeing squirrels around their homes and in parks. But when it comes to cleanliness, how sanitary are squirrels?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Squirrels are not considered particularly clean animals, but they do engage in grooming behaviors to keep themselves tidy.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we’ll take an in-depth look at squirrel hygiene and cleanliness habits. We’ll examine how squirrels groom themselves, what diseases they can carry, their toilet habits, nest sanitation, and more.
We’ll also look at whether squirrels make good pets when it comes to cleanliness and compare them to other rodents and backyard critters. Read on to learn all about squirrel sanitation and decide for yourself if squirrels are clean animals.
Squirrel Grooming Habits
Fur Care
Squirrels dedicate a significant amount of time each day to grooming and caring for their fur coats. Their fur helps regulate body temperature and repel moisture, so keeping it in good condition is essential.
Squirrels are agile acrobats, able to twist, turn, and contort their bodies to reach all areas that need grooming. They use their teeth and claws to remove debris, loose hair, and parasites from their fur. Saliva helps bind fur strands back together if wind or rain has ruffled them.
Squirrels may also take dust baths or sunbathe to help clean and condition their coats. Their flexibility allows them to groom hard-to-reach spots like their heads, ears, tails, and stomachs. Squirrels’ diligent fur care is key to their health and survival.
Paw and Claw Care
A squirrel’s paws and claws are important tools for climbing, foraging, and other essential activities. To keep them in good working order, squirrels devote time to cleaning and sharpening their claws.
They use their teeth to neatly trim and file their claws, restoring sharp points needed for grasping rough bark and other surfaces. Squirrels also lick their paws to remove dirt, sap, or other sticky debris. The moisture and abrasive texture of their tongues help keep paw pads supple and sensitive.
Proper paw and claw hygiene allows squirrels to maintain their dexterity and agility in the trees. It’s impressive how squirrels can contort themselves to reach every toe and claw for a pedicure!
Dental Hygiene
Though squirrels aren’t known to brush their teeth, they do practice good dental hygiene habits. Their diet of nuts, seeds, tree bark, and other fibrous foods keeps their teeth clean and healthy. The abrasive textures act as natural abrasives to remove plaque and tartar.
Squirrels also chew on bones, shells, and twigs to scrape and sharpen their teeth. Their constant gnawing wears down overgrown teeth and stimulates healthy gum tissue. Self-sharpening keeps their incisors at optimal sharpness for cracking hard nuts and seeds.
Squirrels also use their teeth for grooming purposes, keeping their fur neat and pest-free. Good dental care allows squirrels to enjoy a long, healthy life.
Potential for Disease Transmission
Fleas and Ticks
Squirrels can carry fleas and ticks that may transmit diseases like typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease. Fleas live on squirrels and can jump off onto humans and pets. Ticks will latch onto squirrels as they brush by vegetation.
When the ticks bite squirrels, they can pick up pathogens that cause disease. It’s important to check yourself and your pets for ticks after being around squirrels. Using insect repellent can also help prevent fleas and ticks from biting you.
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the nervous system. It is primarily transmitted through saliva from the bite of an infected animal. Squirrels are one of the most common wild animals to transmit rabies to humans in the United States.
According to the CDC, squirrels accounted for 27% of all rabies cases in the US in 2018. While rare, rabies can be transmitted if a rabid squirrel bites or scratches a human. So it is crucial to seek medical care if bitten or scratched by a squirrel to get vaccinated against the rabies virus.
Salmonella and Other Bacteria
Squirrels may carry Salmonella bacteria and other pathogens harmful to humans. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps in humans. The most common way squirrels transmit Salmonella is through their droppings. The droppings can contaminate areas where food is prepared and stored.
Other bacteria that squirrels carry include Listeria and Escherichia coli (E.coli). Like Salmonella, these bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness if ingested by humans. So it’s important to thoroughly wash hands and disinfect surfaces after contact with squirrels.
Parasites like Roundworms
Squirrels are common hosts for parasitic roundworms, such as Baylisascaris procyonis. The larvae of these worms can cause a disease called larva migrans in humans. This occurs when humans ingest the eggs these worms shed in squirrel feces, either through direct contact or by eating contaminated produce.
According to the California Department of Public Health, over 300 cases of larva migrans associated with squirrels have been reported in the state since 1981. The worms can then migrate through the body, causing issues like blindness or organ damage.
So it’s vital to thoroughly wash hands and produce to prevent ingesting the eggs.
Sanitation of Squirrel Nests
Tree Cavity Nests
Squirrels are actually quite clean animals when it comes to their nests. In tree cavity nests, squirrels will line the interior with soft materials like leaves, moss, fur, and shredded bark to create a comfortable place to sleep and raise their young.
They will frequently replace these linings to keep things fresh. Squirrels are also known to maintain several nests, rotating between them and keeping them clean.
According to one study, tree squirrel nests contain relatively low levels of fleas and other parasites compared to the nests of other rodents. Researchers believe this is likely due to the squirrels’ habits of keeping their nests clean and dry by frequently replacing the nest materials.
Leaf Nests
Leaf nests, also called dreys, are made by species like the eastern gray squirrel. They are constructed of interwoven twigs and lined with moss, leaves, bark and other soft materials. Like tree cavity nests, squirrels keep leaf nests clean by periodically renewing the lining.
One study found that squirrels replace materials in leaf nests about once a month.
Interestingly, the study also found that leaf nests contained more fleas than tree cavity nests. Researchers hypothesized this may be because leaf nests are more exposed to the elements and fleas in the surrounding environment.
Still, the overall flea loads were quite low, suggesting squirrels do a good job limiting parasites in leaf nests as well.
Underground Burrows
Some squirrel species, like ground squirrels, construct underground burrow systems. These consist of tunnels and chambers where the squirrels sleep, nest, store food and take shelter. Squirrels put a lot of effort into excavating these burrows, which can be up to 30 feet long!
They maintain cleanliness by clearing out old nesting materials and debris.
One tactic ground squirrels use is to have designated “bathroom chambers” within their burrows. This helps keep living quarters clean and dry. They also frequently seal off sections of tunnels, perhaps to isolate areas that have become soiled.
Overall, while underground burrows are likely harder to keep clean than arboreal nests, squirrels exhibit behaviors to actively maintain sanitary conditions.
Squirrel Toilet Habits
Latrine Use
Squirrels are actually quite clean animals when it comes to their toilet habits. One of the main ways they keep clean is through the use of latrine sites.
Squirrels designate specific areas, usually at the base of trees or raised surfaces, to repeatedly urinate and defecate. This helps concentrate their waste in one area rather than scattering it across their entire territory.
Researchers have found that squirrels tend to use latrine sites more in the fall and winter. This is likely because the cooler weather and lack of foliage gives them less cover to safely disperse their waste.
By concentrating it in latrines, they can quickly visit a site, do their business, and then retreat to safety.
Some squirrels even share communal latrine sites. Gray squirrels in particular have been observed using the same sites across generations. This suggests the locations get passed down and remain in use for years.
Scatter Hoarding and Digging
While squirrels try to keep their latrine sites tidy, the scatter hoarding and digging they do across their territory means their waste gets spread around too.
Scatter hoarding is when squirrels bury food like nuts and seeds in small shallow caches across their territory. They dig up soil to hide their food stashes. When they do this near their latrine sites or when defecating elsewhere, it can spread waste outside the latrine area.
Squirrels also dig burrows and tunnels which displace soil. If they urinate or defecate near these areas, the waste can get mixed into the loose dirt and scattered around.
Young squirrels may also not always make it to the communal latrine before relieving themselves since they have smaller bladders and less discipline.
How Squirrels Compare to Other Backyard Animals
Vs. Chipmunks
While squirrels and chipmunks may look similar at first glance, they actually have some key differences. Chipmunks are much smaller, weighing only 1-5 oz compared to squirrels which are typically 1-2 lbs.
Chipmunks also have distinct stripes on their heads and bodies, while squirrels have solid brown, gray, or red fur. When it comes to behavior, chipmunks are more shy and reclusive while squirrels tend to be more social and brazen around humans.
In terms of habitat, squirrels build nests up in trees while chipmunks build underground burrows. Both rodents have cheek pouches for storing food, but chipmunks fill theirs with nuts, seeds, and fruit while squirrels may stash a wider variety of foods like fungi, bird eggs, or even trash.
So while they may look cute and furry alike, squirrels and chipmunks have their own distinct appearances and lifestyles.
Vs. Raccoons
Raccoons are much larger than squirrels, weighing 10-25 lbs compared to just 1-2 lbs for most tree squirrels. Their fur also differs, with raccoons having thick grey and black fur with distinctive facial markings including a black “mask” around their eyes.
In terms of behavior, raccoons are nocturnal whereas squirrels are active during the day. Raccoons are also highly adaptable omnivores, eating a wide variety of foods including fruit, nuts, small vertebrates, eggs, garbage, pet food and more.
Squirrels stick more to nuts, seeds, and occasionally fruits, fungi or even eggs. While squirrels are exclusively arboreal, living in trees, raccoons often dens are often found in hollow trees, logs, caves or buildings.
Both species are widespread and can live close to human settlements if food sources allow. But raccoons bring more concerns around potential property damage and aggression.
Vs. Opossums
Opossums have many distinct differences from tree squirrels. They can grow over 2 feet long and weigh 8-15 lbs, much larger than squirrels. Opossums also have a pointier snout, bare greyish or blackish fur, skinny tails, and opposable thumbs on their back feet.
They are nocturnal and solitary while squirrels are active during the day and often social. Opossums eat practically anything including insects, slugs, eggs, frogs, snakes, fruits, grains and carrion. Squirrels mainly eat plant foods like nuts and seeds.
In terms of habitat, opossums often den in abandoned burrows or under decks/buildings. Squirrels are exclusively arboreal, making leaf nests or tree cavities their homes. While both species can inhabit urban areas with food sources, opossums are better adapted to a variety of habitats including forests, prairies and marshes.
Their differences mean squirrels bring fewer concerns around hygiene, damage or aggression.
Vs. Rats and Mice
Rodents like rats and mice have noticeable differences from tree squirrels. Rats and mice are much smaller, weighing only 1/2 lb to 1 lb compared to 1-2 lbs for squirrels. They also have hairless tails, beady eyes, pointed snouts and large ears unlike the furry tails, rounded snouts and small ears of squirrels.
Mice and rats are nocturnal whereas squirrels are active during the day. Their diets also differ, with rats and mice being omnivorous scavengers eating practically anything while squirrels focus more on nuts, seeds, fungi.
In terms of habitat, rats and mice often live in buildings, sewers and underground burrows while squirrels nest exclusively in trees. While both can inhabit urban areas, rats and mice bring greater concerns around structural damage, disease transmission and contamination.
Squirrels do not generally spread serious diseases or cause major property damage like rats.
Animal | Size | Activity Cycle | Diet | Habitat |
Squirrel | 1-2 lbs | Diurnal | Nuts, seeds, fungi | Tree nests |
Chipmunk | 1-5 oz | Diurnal | Nuts, seeds, fruit | Underground burrows |
Raccoon | 10-25 lbs | Nocturnal | Omnivorous | Hollow trees, logs, buildings |
Opossum | 8-15 lbs | Nocturnal | Omnivorous | Abandoned burrows, under buildings |
Rat/Mouse | 1/2 – 1 lb | Nocturnal | Omnivorous | Buildings, sewers, burrows |
Squirrels as Pets: Cleanliness Considerations
Cage Cleaning
Keeping squirrels’ cages clean is crucial for their health and wellbeing. Their enclosures should be spot-cleaned daily to remove soiled bedding, spilled food and droppings. A thorough disinfecting cleaning should occur at least once a week.
All surfaces should be scrubbed and disinfected to prevent the buildup of bacteria. Safe and effective disinfectants for squirrel cages include diluted bleach or vinegar solutions. Be sure to rinse surfaces thoroughly after cleaning.
Replacing natural cage substrates like aspen shavings or shredded paper weekly can also help maintain cleanliness.
Grooming Needs
In the wild, squirrels are very fastidious groomers, spending up to 50% of their waking hours on fur cleaning activities. As pets, their grooming needs don’t decrease. Provide pet squirrels with branches, rocks or wooden toys in their enclosures to help keep their nails trim.
Brushing their coat 2-3 times a week with a soft brush removes loose hair and distributes natural skin oils. Check for any mats, fleas or skin irritation during grooming sessions. Given their intricate grooming rituals, cleanliness is clearly very important to squirrels.
Meeting these needs is essential for their health and happiness as pets.
Odor Control
Squirrels are clean animals, but any pet can produce odors if their enclosure isn’t kept clean. Performing spot cleanings whenever messes occur keeps odors at bay. Using absorbent substrates like aspen shavings can help control smells.
Natural odor neutralizers like zeolites or activated charcoal can be added to cages too. Providing adequate ventilation prevents ammonia buildup from urine. Squirrels also emit unique pheromones and scents from glands on their flanks.
While not unpleasant to humans, these can accumulate in unventilated housing. With proper cage hygiene and air flow, squirrel enclosures can be kept fresh smelling.
Disease Risks
Lack of cleanliness is linked to higher disease risks in captive squirrels. Bacteria, parasites and fungi thrive in unclean living conditions. Two common bacterial diseases, salmonella and leptospirosis, spread via contact with urine and droppings.
Internal and external parasites like roundworms, mites and fleas can plague dirty squirrels and transmit other illnesses. Dental issues like overgrown teeth or abscesses also frequently stem from lack of hygiene.
Choosing disinfectants safe for squirrels and thoroughly cleaning cages minimizes contagious disease hazards. Following strict hygiene protocols and providing diverse cleaning opportunities lets squirrels satisfy their natural cleanliness instincts.
Conclusion
When it comes to cleanliness, squirrels are neither pristine nor filthy creatures. They engage in grooming and nesting behaviors that help keep themselves tidy. However, they do carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans, produce waste, and can cause a mess when scatter hoarding or digging.
Compared to other rodents and backyard critters, squirrels are generally cleaner than rats and mice but not as clean as chipmunks. Keeping squirrels as pets also requires additional work to control odor and clean their cage.
While squirrels aren’t the cleanest animals you’ll encounter, their natural behaviors do help promote sanitation to some degree. With proper precautions like handwashing and excluding them from homes, squirrels can be appreciated as fascinating backyard wildlife even if they aren’t the most hygienic creatures.