Residents of a town in California have been on high alert after officials issued an urgent warning against a squirrel dubbed the ‘attack squirrel’.
It’s been attacking people
An animal dubbed the ‘attack squirrel’ has had the residents of San Rafael, a California town located around 80 miles from Sacramento, on high alert.
It’s reported that the squirrel has been attacking multiple people, with two having to visit the emergency room as a result.
Those attacked spoke about it
The aggressive animal has left multiple people injured. One person who was attacked was Joan Heblack, an elderly woman who spoke to KRON4.
She told the outlet, “I was just walking along, and suddenly, there’s a squirrel attached to my thigh. Just clomped down on my thigh.”
The animal wouldn’t leave her
“I look down and I was like ‘What is that?’ I said, ‘Get off, get off’,” the woman went on. “I was trying to brush him off. He was just clinging more and biting.”
Another woman, Marie Ayoob, also claims her husband was attacked by what could be the same squirrel.
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It was chewing on their fence
Ayoob recalled that her husband found the squirrel chewing their wooden fence, and when he tried to stop it, it ‘jumped on his head’ and scratched him.
Community members have put out warning posters in light of the multiple outbreaks caused by the ‘attack squirrel’.
They described him as ‘very mean’
The posters point out the offending animal, describing him as ‘a very mean squirrel’ that ‘comes out of nowhere’, warning that ‘this is not a joke.’
They also read, “Several have gone to the ER with severe lacerations.”
A wildlife hospital has since spoken about this
This has resulted in officials issuing a warning about squirrels, with a spokesperson from WildCare, a wildlife hospital, nature education center, and wildlife advocacy organization in Marin County, putting out a statement.
“WildCare has received numerous calls about a squirrel attacking residents in the Lucas Valley neighborhood of San Rafael,” they said.
They explained why the squirrel is acting this way
The spokesperson went on, “Unfortunately, the squirrel is most likely approaching people and biting them because he was raised by people, or has been hand-fed by a human, but is now on his own, uncertain about how to forage, and desperate for food. Squirrels are naturally shy animals.”
Raising squirrels is a ‘bad idea’
“Especially right now, when the local tree squirrels are having their second brood of babies for the summer, it’s common for baby squirrels to end up on the ground,” they added.
“People sometimes find fallen baby squirrels, and decide to keep them and raise them themselves. There are many reasons doing this is a bad idea.”
They advised against feeding wildlife
The institution concluded, “The lesson here is don’t feed wildlife, and always bring orphaned baby animals to WildCare for care. We make sure they remain wild.”
