Wildlife, while often charming and fascinating, can pose significant health risks. Zoonotic diseases are illnesses transmitted between animals and humans and are a concerning reality when you come in contact with these animals, their den sites, or their feces as these diseases can be spread through various means, including bites, scratches, contact with bodily fluids, or even airborne particles.
Common Wildlife Carriers and Their Associated Diseases
- Birds
- Histoplasmosis: This fungal infection is contracted by inhaling spores from bird droppings, particularly those of pigeons and chickens. Symptoms include fever, cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
- Psittacosis (Ornithosis): Transmitted through contact with infected bird droppings, feathers, or respiratory secretions, psittacosis causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, headache, and muscle aches.
- Raccoons
- Rabies: A deadly viral disease that attacks the nervous system, rabies is transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, and difficulty swallowing. As the disease progresses, it can lead to confusion, anxiety, hallucinations, and paralysis.
- Baylisascariasis: This parasitic infection occurs when humans accidentally ingest roundworm eggs from raccoon feces. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and neurological problems.
- Squirrels
- Hantavirus: This virus is transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, and respiratory problems. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure.
- Lyme Disease: While primarily transmitted by ticks, squirrels can carry infected ticks and contribute to the spread of this disease, which causes a rash, flu-like symptoms, and, in some cases, joint pain and neurological problems.
- Bats
- Rabies: As with raccoons, bats can transmit rabies through bites or scratches.
- Histoplasmosis: Bat guano can also be a source of Histoplasmosis.
Preventing Zoonotic Disease Transmission
To minimize the risk of zoonotic diseases, consider the following preventive measures:
- Professional Wildlife Removal
- Prompt Removal: Timely removal of wildlife from your home is crucial to prevent exposure to potential health hazards.
- Thorough Cleaning and Disinfection: A professional wildlife removal company will clean and disinfect areas contaminated with animal droppings, urine, or other bodily fluids.
- Exclusion Techniques: Implementing effective exclusion techniques can prevent future wildlife intrusions.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Gloves and Masks: When cleaning up after wildlife, wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from exposure to harmful pathogens.
- Eye Protection: Consider wearing eye protection to prevent accidental exposure to debris or infectious agents.
- Vaccination
- Rabies Vaccine: If you are at high risk of exposure to wildlife, such as wildlife rehabilitators or veterinarians, consider getting a rabies vaccination. These pre-exposure vaccines can help ensure that you remain safe from the risk of rabies.
- Avoid Direct Contact
- Minimize Interaction: Avoid direct contact with wildlife, including feeding or touching them.
- Secure Food Sources: Store food and garbage in airtight containers to discourage wildlife from entering your home.
- Regular Inspections
- Inspect Your Home: Regularly inspect your home for potential entry points, such as gaps, cracks, or holes, and seal them to prevent wildlife intrusion.
Conclusion
Because of this, Prickly Pear employees take extra precautions when working in environments where droppings, animals, or nesting material is present to ensure our safety.
By understanding the risks associated with wildlife and taking proactive measures, you can significantly reduce your chances of contracting a zoonotic disease. If you suspect a wildlife infestation or have been exposed to a potentially infected animal, seek medical attention immediately. The best way to keep your home and family safe from these diseases is by having Prickly Pear’s trained inspector out to your house annually to look through all of the common entry points and identify any issues early. While wildlife can enter the home at any time, it is most often gradual and with early identification of problems, we can limit the damage that wildlife can have.