However, lagomorphs, such as hares and rabbits, and small rodents, such as chipmunks, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, and squirrels, are almost never found to be infected with rabies and are not known to transmit rabies to humans.
The good news is that these pests rarely carry rabies, but it is still a possibility. Another rare outcome from a chipmunk bite is tetanus. However, this is preventable through vaccination. If you are bit by a chipmunk, wash the bite with soap and water.
Squirrels, mice, and other small rodents have only very rarely been found to have rabies, and have never been known to transmit rabies to humans or other animals. In general, postexposure treatment is not recommended after a bite from one of these animals unless it is unusually vicious or appears obviously ill.
Never try to pick up an adult mammal like a squirrel, chipmunk, or groundhog with your hands -- even if you're wearing gloves. It's best and safest to use an indirect method to contain them. Remember -- human safety first! If at any point you feel afraid or uncomfortable, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
They will scratch and bite perceived predators and potential threats to their food supply. This is why untrained humans should not touch chipmunks. Another reason for avoiding touching chipmunks is that they carry a variety of diseases.
Chipmunks can carry several diseases dangerous to humans and pets. One of the most serious is rabies, a potentially fatal viral infection that can be transmitted through bites. They can also harbor salmonella bacteria, which leads to food poisoning when ingested by humans.
Raccoons. Raccoons remain the most frequently reported rabid animal in the United States. The raccoon rabies reservoir extends throughout the southeastern, mid-Atlantic, and northeastern states.
How is Rabies transmitted? People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.
Initial symptoms of rabies include generic signs like fever, pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensations at the wound site. As the virus moves to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops.
Small rodents (such as squirrels, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and chipmunks) and lagomorphs (such as rabbits and hares) are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to cause rabies among humans in the United States.
How long does it take for rabies to show in humans?
Symptoms of rabies usually take 3 to 12 weeks to appear, but they can appear after a few days or not for several months or years. Symptoms include: numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched.
Other animals, such as birds, chickens, snakes, fish, turtles, lizards and insects, never get rabies. In Indiana, bats are the most common species to test positive for rabies. In 2024, skunk-variant rabies was detected in southeastern Indiana for the first time in 20 years.
The UK has been free from rabies in animals other than bats since 1902, making domestic infection extremely rare. Some UK bat species can carry European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBLVs), rabies-like viruses that caused the death of a professional bat handler who sustained several bites in Scotland in 2002.
Based on the available evidence in this case of rabies encephalitis, the incubation period was tentatively considered to be 25 years from the time of dog bite.
Chipmunks don't generally enjoy being handled and it can be stressful for them. If you're handling a chipmunk, avoid scruffing them or picking them up by their tail, as this can be painful and can injure them.
And, if rodents are bringing in fleas, and ticks, you may find yourself dealing with secondary issues such as an infestation of fleas, and the potential of Lyme disease. Chipmunks have also been known to spread diseases such as plague, salmonella, and hantavirus.
If it helps though, a chipmunk is not going to chase you down and attack you. They do bite, especially when you try to corner them, catch them, or hold them in your hand, and let us tell you firsthand, they bite– HARD!
Don't approach or attempt to touch chipmunks either, it is unlikely, but they will bite if they feel threatened which can lead to disease. In general, keep your distance and take notice of possible symptoms.
However, you can't tell if a mouse or rat has a hantavirus just by looking at it. It's a good idea to be cautious. Avoid wild mice and rats, and safely clean up and disinfect any signs of them in your home, including pee, poop or nests.
New Mexico Department of Public Health records seen by BBC News documented evidence of the animals in eight detached buildings at their home in Santa Fe. US officials previously confirmed that Ms Arakawa, 65, died from a respiratory illness linked to hantavirus, which can be transmitted by infected rodents.
