BUT, would YOU want to take the chance?

For sure, as there is no risk involved. I would reflect on whether I
had kept up with my tetanus booster shots, but you need to keep those
current for working in your yard.

Overall, you are at greater risk of catching a serious disease from a
mosquito. About the only rodent-like animal I would be worried about
would be rabbits as they can carry a fairly serious disease that can
be transmitted to humans, tulermia.

Rusty

What about skunks? I thought the rationale behind banning skunks as pets is
that they carry rabies. Or are they not rodents?

Cindy