While it may seem harmless to see a squirrel innocently climbing a tree in search of acorns, these bushy-tailed creatures have been reported to aggressively attack humans.
In one incident, a wild squirrel “leaped” onto a woman’s face, causing her to claim that it “almost killed” her. Isabel Campoy recounted how the squirrel suddenly dropped “to the ground” before attempting to “leap up to my face.”
Describing the ordeal, she said, “I tried to shield my face, and my arm was completely overwhelmed by the squirrel.” Isabel sustained deep, bloody wounds on her right arm when the squirrel “finally leaped off,” prompting her to seek medical attention at the emergency room.
Following the harrowing experience, the victim expressed, “It is painful to touch the skin. I am summoning all my strength and willpower to assure myself that I will survive this.”
Joan Heblack, another passerby, was also unexpectedly attacked by a squirrel in California, describing it as “highly frightening” as it “appeared out of nowhere.” Recounting the incident, she stated, “It clung onto my leg and just hung there.”
She continued, “Its tail was flailing about. I was shouting, ‘Get off me, get off me!’ I hesitated to touch it. It was completely unexpected. I didn’t see it approaching me at all.”
Joan was left with bite and claw marks, covered in blood, following the squirrel’s attack during a morning walk, requiring medical intervention. Experts caution that health risks such as leptospirosis and salmonella have been associated with squirrels.
Isabel and Joan are among five individuals who have encountered squirrel attacks in the Lucas Valley area of San Rafael, California, as ABC News reported. Concerned residents have responded by posting warning signs and emphasizing that the situation is serious.
The posters prominently display the message: “Beware of attack squirrel!” They further state, “This is not a joke, with more than five individuals having been attacked.”
Vanessa Potter from WildCare in San Rafael informed ABC that such incidents are not uncommon and could result from squirrels being previously fed by humans. She explained, “If they associate people with food, they lose their fear of humans
