Squirrels don't carry rabies. All mammals can get rabies but only skunks,
raccoons, foxes and bats are rabies carriers. That means they can survive a few
weeks with rabies in their system before dying, long enough to bite someone
else adn give it to them. Most other mammals die quickly. If a squirrel were to
be bitten by a rabid animal, it'd probably die instantly because they are so
small. I think the last squirrel found in CA with rabies was ten years ago and
it was dead. Just clean the wound well and watch it. I've been bitten quite a
few times and never had a problem. You're more likely to get rabies from your
cat or dog.

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From: mmmaryinla@aol.comspam (Mary)

I'm no expert, but I'm not sure I buy all that. My understanding is that any
mammal, even humans, is capable of transmitting rabies. My cat just
recently made it through his 6 month rabies quarantine, so I've recently
done a bit of research and asked a bunch of questions about rabies.

My Understanding:
Rabies travels through the nerves from the bite location to the brain and
when it gets there, death occurs within 10 days and usually within 5. An
animal can carry rabies for as much as a year for a large animal with a
bite in the hind end, but is not able to transmit it until the last 10 days
when the virus moves into the salivary glands. If you are bitten, and the
animal is still alive 2 weeks later, you will not get rabies even if the animal
is infected.
A bite from a potentially rabid animal is considered a medical "urgency"
and not a medical "emergency". If the baby squirrel has distinct markings
and is seen regularly, watch it for 2 weeks. If it's still around and looks healthy,
you're safe.
I would say, though, due to the fact that rabies is 100% fatal in humans
when symptoms appear, you should check with the Health Dept. or local
hospital to see if they advise you to start the shots.
Rabies shots used to be a series of painful injections into the stomach,
but now it's just a half dozen shots in the arm according to a defined
schedule. After you get them, you're considered immunized against rabies.

I hope Mary is right about squirrels not being carriers. But due to the fatality
rate, I'd check with the medical authorities to be sure. It'll give you peace of
mind, if nothing else.
I'd never bet my life on anything I read in a newsgroup.

If you haven't done so already call your doctor. No sense taking
chances. Plus alot depends on how long ago your tetanus shot was received.

I was bitten twice by the same over exuberant squirrel and I'm fine. Other
than the urge to climb trees and eat peanut butter. I did learn a valuable
lesson though, Squirrels are as blind up close as cats. It mistook my finger
for a peanut. The second time I was a little slow disbursing it's snack and
it leapt off the ground for it's peanut.

I had the same concerns as you until I read the stats about squirrel size
and the likelihood of an infected squirrel surviving. We'd been feeding this
squirrel for a couple of years and it did not show any strange behaviour.
Other than hoping the cats (indoor) might give out her peanuts.

While you can't guarantee anything, to the best of my knowledge there's
never been a case of rabies in a human transmitted from a rodent. But I
still recommend you check with your MD.

Mark, DVM

Yes, squirrels can carry rabies but they are seldom infected.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies

Nicole