Been in a state of panic since last evening because I came across a chipmunk acting very strangely yesterday on my walk

It was acting dazed, like it didn't know where it was or where it was going. When I came close to it, it just went completely still on the sidewalk

I was at least smart enough not to touch it directly-- I found a nearby stick and poked at it. Still wouldn't move. I couldn't even see it breathing. Perfectly still.

I was able to observe it closely and I saw no signs of injury or trauma. It looked healthy aside from it's behavior (although it was kind of small and not fluffy, maybe it was a juvenile). No erratic movements, no aggression, no seizure-like movements or drooling.

Just dazed and confused, like it had been hit very hard in the head.

After about a minute of observation, it slowly made its way across the street. I followed it. It unfortunately fell into a runoff sewer (covered by a grate) and that was the last I saw of it.

My instinct is that it endured some kind of blunt force trauma, had a neurological pathogen, or maybe got into some rodent poison.

I contacted my PCP about it since all internet resources I found said to talk to your doctor

Unlikely to be rabies. Chipmunks and the like very rarely contact rabies and have never been known to transmit it to a human

I spoke to a nurse about it over the phone and they were not immediately concerned but said that they would have the doctor double check to be 100% sure

Mosasaurus: yeah that's what I read online! but even then all those sites said to talk to a doctor so that is what I have done

I realize now it was stupid to get close but I have a heart for chipmunks. we leave them offerings of peanuts or strawberries on our front porch from time to time and it is fun to watch them enjoy them

they're very cute

But man last night (because it was too late to call my doctor) I was definitely flipping the fuck out

gotta love having contamination based OCD, but still being too stupid to stay the hell away from weird animals!

yeah honestly I'd say probably just got hit by a car or something :/ still it's understandable to be worried!

Kanetsugu: yeah, and literally only 1 chipmunk was found to actually have rabies from like... 1995-2010. It probably fell or got hit or ate poison. and I didn't touch it, so

doctor called back and said as long as here was no direct contact it will be fine

Yeah... pretty sure rabies requires some actual direct physical contact to be transmitted.

sailorgundam06: you have to get still-wet saliva in a wound or mucous membrane

once the saliva dries it's no longer infectious

so technically, even touching a rabid animal's fur is not a true exposure

(or brain or spinal material, but of course that's only a problem if the animal is dead)

yeah