Anyone know why a squirrel would behave this squirrelly?

[Baitball Blogger]

[hlthe2b]

1. Squirrels are susceptible to canine distemper, which can mimic rabies, causing aggression or

or disorientation, staggering... It does spread to other squirrels and typically a die-off will be seen. Humans are NOT susceptible, however.

Distemper also affects raccoons, which was very likely the cause of "drunken" behavior in the earlier videos that presumed they'd gotten drunk off of fermented fruit.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. So wildlife probably put the poor thing down.

Oh, well. He did the best he could.

[hlthe2b]

15. Maybe, but one would hope they would observe for a while to rule out the squirrel reacting to

an inciting event (human) and thus being territorial. If they agreed the behavior was really unusual, they'd likely euthanize for testing so as to identify a possible outbreak.

[Sneederbunk]

2. Leave whom alone?

[getagrip_already]

3. rabies......

Be very suspicious of a wild mammal that behaves either unusually friendly or unusually aggressive. Both are signs of the damage rabies can do to the brain. Also, they tend to stop eating.

This squirrel has the signs, although its possible it has been handled by humans and is no longer afraid of them. That happens in parks where they can get aggressive.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. How would the wildlife group make the determination?

[hlthe2b]

7. they would test for antibodies to distemper post mortem FIRST and only if negative exam brain for

florescent Negri bodies indicative of rabies. Don't fixate on rabies. It is a rule out for any neurological condition in wildlife, but very very very rare in squirrels and rodents. Canine distemper, on the other hand, is NOT.

[getagrip_already]

10. I thought they biopsied the brain to be sure?

In any case, it shouldn't be around people in that condition.

[hlthe2b]

11. If you read my post again, I indicate that rabies is rare in squirrels, so they would test FIRST

for distemper which is far more common and a readily performed antibody test. If negative, THEN they would biopsy the brain and complete specific histopathological testing for Negri bodies which are specific for rabies. The latter is somewhat costly and because rabies would NOT be the likely cause, it would be done only after ruling out distemper. Right now, distemper is reemerging in wildlife, especially among raccoons, foxes, and related smaller carnivores, but likewise spilling out into smaller mammals, including squirrels.

Rabies would be a primary consideration in those mammals more likely to contract it and showing aggressive or encephalitic symptoms. Thus, a domestic dog or cat with wildlife exposure potential, coyote, wolf, fox, raccoon, etc. would be tested first (IMMEDIATELY) for rabies ESPECIALLY if there were possible human exposures. They too could have contracted distemper, but the public health potential (and susceptibility) would mean they would be tested early on for rabies.


Similarly, if you presented to your physician for bloody diarrhea, they would want to consider bacterial causes (including E. coli 0157:H7 or Shigella infection) to which humans are both highly susceptible to and not infrequently exposed to via contaminated food. They would NOT start a battery of all possible testing (and extremely costly) for rare and unlikely causes (including Ebola or other hemorrhagic viruses) even though THEORETICALLY they remain as POSSIBLE causes, however unlikely given no history nor route of exposure. With rabies we have more than a century of data on wildlife susceptibility and many decades of confirmatory testing to be able to say that rodents and squirrels are rarely infected and similarly lots of data to show how frequently canine distemper virus infects tham mimicking the signs and symptoms of rabies.

The adage in Medicine, both human and veterinary is when you hear hoof beats think horses, not zerbras, until horses are at least ruled out.

[getagrip_already]

14. makes sense... tx

But whatever the reason, you shouldn't be poking the bear so to speak. whoever filmed that was pretty irresponsible.

If you encounter an aggressive mammal that is normally timid, don't handle it or give it the opportunity to bite you.

I think we both know what animal control would do in this case. Unless someone were bitten/scratched, they would euthanize it and dispose of it without a second thought. They don't treat captured squirrels. At least not that I've ever heard of.

[hlthe2b]

6. All mammmals are suceptible to rabies, but squirrels & rodents very very rarely contract. Distemper

is far, far, far more likely

[Callmecrazy]

22. Squirrels don't get rabies...nt

[targetpractice]

24. This is, indeed, true... I've researched this thoroughly...

... Helping a friend whose dog nipped another person in a dog park in NYC... The dog was six months past due on rabies vaccination, but an over-the-top clique in the dog park insisted that he "victim" go immediately to a hospital to get rabies shots. I tried to explain that just because a rabies vaccination is overdue does not mean a dog automatically gets rabies... Nevertheless the "victim" dumbly went to the hospital, and inexplicably was given the first round of rabies prophylactic shots. Super expensive and not covered by insurance, because NY Presbyterian did not follow protocol. The victim sued. So I helped my 78 year old friend prepare a pro se defense... I discovered that in NY State... Rabies are only transmitted by bats, raccoons, dogs, and cats... Never squirrels nor rats. Interestingly, there has never been a documented case of a rabid dog in all the boroughs of NYC since data was first collected in the 1940s. The case was dismissed.

Be that as it may, that squirrel in the video was not rabid... It didn't seem particularly irritated at all to me... Just confused, and looking for help.

[stonecutter357]

27. Squirrel had too many crabapples .

[Jarqui]

8. We experienced that when squirrels moved into our attic during the winter.

We were fools/suckers (animal lovers).
Fearing for their safety, we let them stay through the winter.
In the spring, we attempted to block them out.
By then, it was a bigger problem because they had had a litter.
They did not take kindly to our efforts.
They were gnawing through the wood to get back in.
We tried putting our cats in the attic. No luck
We put up sheet metal/siding to block them.
We experienced them running at us upset.
They seemed a little more aggressive than the video.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Territorial, then. They were defending their penthouse.

[Jarqui]

12. :)

[Autumn]

13. I've had a pet squirrel. When he would put his front paw on his chest he wanted a treat or food.

They can leap, like about 5 feet. When I go out to give peanuts to the ones in my yard they will stand relaxed with a paw up waiting till I put the peanuts on the feeder. That's a young squirrel and I bet someone kept it then released it. He doesn't know how to be a squirrel or he's hungry.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. Makes sense.

My sister rehabs babies who were thrown from the nest. Just two. But she has learned to keep the door closed to help them accept their wild heritage.

I hope that the wildlife people consider this possibility. A very hungry baby can do strange things.

[Autumn]

17. He's not really being aggressive, if he was he would have leaped at him. He's not signaling

with his tail. He just seems to be in a confusing situation to him. The man said the squirrel was filled with rage. Bullshit. If a squirrel is pissed off you will know it. They make a lot of racket and flick their tails for warnings. The way he had his tail on his back is how the one's in my yard are when they are relaxed around me.

[red dog 1]

19. + 1

[Kali]

18. This. it is a young squirrel that somebody may have raised on a bottle or at least hand tamed.

they can still get aggressive but I bet it either got out of the house where it was raised or somebody "let it go free."

[red dog 1]

20. You'd probably react the same way if someone came along & ripped all the plastic off

the box you were staying in and then moved the box and opened all the flaps like that

Live and let live, that's what I say.

[Wounded Bear]

21. You are what you eat...

Squirrels are nuts.

[LAS14]

23. How did this film get made? How did the squirrel get in the box in the first place? nt

[forgotmylogin]

30. He said the squirrel kept coming after him and his son.

He got it into the box to contain it.

There's definitely something weird. It was either sick or as someone mentioned an actual "tame" squirrel that is used to receiving food from humans and being aggressive sort of like hungry seagulls can be.

I definitely would have called animal control to pick it up and figure out what was wrong instead of releasing it again to potentially bite someone else (even if it's not a "mean" squirrel, unsupervised children might have a mishap) or infect other animals or get into a fight with a dog or a cat.

[Major Nikon]

25. Makes you wonder if this happened in Pascagoula

[stonecutter357]

26. the squirrel is drunk on crab apples !

[jls4561]

28. I want a follow-up to this video

Please post any info you get from the wildlife center.

[Sneederbunk]

29. The squirrel is probably a Republican.

[forgotmylogin]

31. Seriousness aside...

this reminds me of a (likely fictional or very embellished) tall tale which made me howl when I first read it.

Biker vs. Squirrel
RHKmanJal, NM US

I never dreamed slowly cruising on motorcycle through a residential neighborhood could be so incredibly dangerous! Little did I suspect....

I was on Brice Street - a very nice neighborhood with perfect lawns and slow traffic. As I passed an on coming car a brown furry missile shot out from under it and tumbled to a stop immediately in front of me.

It was a squirrel and it must have been trying to run across the road when it encountered the car. I really was not going very fast but there was no time to brake or avoid it -- it was that close. I hate to run over animals and I really hate it on a motorcycle but a squirrel should pose no danger to me.

I barely had time to brace for the impact. Animal lovers never fear. Squirrels I discovered can take care of themselves.

Inches before impact the squirrel flipped to his feet. He was standing on his hind legs and facing my oncoming Victory Cross Country Tour with steadfast resolve in his beady little eyes.

His mouth opened and at the last possible second he screamed and leaped!

I was pretty sure the scream was Squirrel for "Banzai!" or maybe "Die you gravy sucking heathen scum!" The leap was nothing short of spectacular...

He shot straight up, flew over my windshield and impacted me squarely in the chest. Instantly he set upon me. If I did not know better I would have sworn he brought 20 of his little buddies along for the attack.

Snarling, hissing, and tearing at my clothes, he was a frenzy of activity. As I was dressed only in a light T-shirt, summer riding gloves and jeans, this was a bit of a cause for concern. This furry little tornado was doing some damage!

Picture a large man on a huge Sunset Red touring bike, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and leather gloves, puttering at maybe 25 MPH down a quiet residential street and in the fight of his life with a squirrel.

And losing...

I grabbed for him with my left hand. After a few misses I finally managed to snag his tail. With all my strength I flung the evil rodent off to the left of the bike, almost running into the right curb as I recoiled from the throw. That should have done it. The matter should have ended right there.

It really should have. The squirrel could have sailed into one of the pristine kept yards and gone on about his business and I could have headed home. No one would have been the wiser. But this was no ordinary squirrel. This was not even an ordinary angry squirrel. This was an EVIL MUTANT ATTACK SQUIRREL OF DEATH! Twisted Evil.

Some how he caught my gloved finger with one of his little paws and with the force of my throw, swung around and with a resounding thump and an amazing impact, landed squarely on my BACK and resumed his rather antisocial and extremely distracting activities. He also managed to take my left glove with him! The situation was not improved, not improved at all.

His attacks were continuing and now I could not reach him. I was startled to say the least. The combination of the force of the throw, only having one hand (the throttle hand) on the handle bars, and my jerking back unfortunately put a healthy twist through my right hand and into the throttle. A healthy twist on the throttle of a Victory Cross Country Tour can only have one result.

Torque.

That is what the Victory Cross Country Tour is made for, and she is very, very good at it.

The engine roared and the front wheel left the pavement.

The squirrel screamed in anger.

The Victory Cross Country Tour screamed in ecstasy.

I screamed in ... well ... I just plain screamed.

Now picture a man on the huge Sunset Red touring bike, dressed in jeans, a slightly squirrel torn T-shirt, wearing only one leather glove and roaring at maybe 50 MPH and rapidly accelerating down a quiet residential street on one wheel with a demonic squirrel of death on his back.

The man and the squirrel are both screaming bloody murder.

With the sudden acceleration, I was forced to put my other hand back on the handlebars and try to get control of the bike.

This was leaving the mutant squirrel to his own devices, but I really did not want to crash into somebodies tree, house or parked car. Also, I had not yet figured out how to release the throttle ... my brain was just simply overloaded. I did manage to mash the back brake, but it had little effect against the massive power the the big touring bike.

About this time the squirrel decided I was not paying sufficient attention to this very serious battle (maybe he was an evil mutant NAZI attack squirrel of death), and he came around my neck and INSIDE my full-face helmet with me.

As the face shield closed part way, he began hissing in my face. I am quite sure my screaming changed intensity. It had little effect on the squirrel however. The RPM's on the Freedom 106 maxed out (since I was not bothering with shifting at the moment), so her front end started to drop.

Now picture a large man on a huge Sunset Red touring bike, dressed in jeans, a very raggedly torn T-shirt, wearing only one leather glove, roaring at probably 80 MPH, still on one wheel, with a large puffy squirrel's tail sticking out of the mostly closed full-face helmet. By now the screams are probably getting a little horse.

Finally I got the upper hand ... I managed to grab his tail again, pulled him out of my helmet and slung him to the left as hard as I could. This time it worked ... sort of.

Spectacularly sort-of, so to speak.

Picture a new scene. You are a cop. You and your partner have pulled off on a quiet residential street and parked with your windows down to do some paperwork. Suddenly a large man on a huge Sunset Red touring bike, dressed in jeans, a torn T-shirt flapping in the breeze, and wearing only one leather glove, moving at probably 80 MPH on one wheel and screaming bloody murder roars by and with all his strength throws a live mutant squirrel into your police car.

I heard screams.

This time they weren't mine...

I managed to get the big motorcycle under control and dropped the front wheel to the ground. I then used maximum braking and skidded to a stop in a cloud of tire smoke at the stop sign of a busy cross street. I would have returned to fess up (and to get my glove back), I really would have. Really ... Except for two things.

First, the cops did not seem interested or the slightest bit concerned about me at the moment. When I looked back, the doors on both sides of the patrol car were flung open. The cop from the passenger side was on his back doing a crab walk into some body's front yard quickly moving away from the car. The cop who had been in the driver's seat was standing in the street aiming a riot gun at his own police car.

So, the cops were not interested in me. They often insist to "let the professionals handle it" anyway.

That was one thing. The other?

Well, I could clearly see shredded and flying pieces of foam and upholstery from the back seat. But I could also swear I saw the squirrel in the back window, shaking his little fist at me. That is one dangerous squirrel. And now has a patrol car. A somewhat shredded patrol car ... but it was all his.

I took a deep breath, turned on my turn signal, made a gentle right turn off of Brice Street and sedately left the neighborhood. I decided it was best to just buy myself a new pair of gloves. And a whole lot of Band-Aids.

[Baitball Blogger]

32. LOL!

So good I want to see this in a movie.

[CentralMass]

33. Thank you, that was an epic tale.

[CentralMass]

34. When my ex and I bought our house around 30 years ago it hadn't been lived in for a year or two.

The house had a cathedral ceiling with a loft with a balcony looking down at the living room. We were recently married and it was just the two of so we made the loft our bedroom. The first night in the house we heard some activity in the ceiling above the bed. Squirrels had taken residence up in ceiling and would scurry up and down inside the ceiling and would occasionally drop an acorn that would roll down inside the ceiling above our heads. Needless to say it freaked us out. We had rough hewn beams that spanned from the balcony to the outer wall that we had placed little knick knacks on a on the second night we heard one fall off a beam. So at that point I became Bill Murray in CadyShack fighting the "gopher kong". I found their entry point, a water damages eve, that had a very small entry hole. So I bought the necessary wood, tools, and a ladder to make the repair. Though I needed to drive them out before repairing the eve. Since we lived in woods with no close neighbors, I propped our stereo speakers up against the slanted ceiling before work and popped in an AC/DC cassette and turned the volume up high before we left. After about a week of this we didnt hear any activity so I repaired the eve that weekend. However the next few nights we heard some very faint noises and assumed that some baby squirrels didn't make it out. The loft had a cedar lined closet that had the houses large center chimney behind it and I surmised that it was the likely entry point from the ceiling to an exit point and where they were able to get into the house. So i stapled some heavy tarp over the closet opening with some wood strapping. Now their likely exit point was up or down thr side of the chimney. I kept blasting AC/DC and about a week later we noticed that something had gotten into bird seed that we had on a steel rack near the chimney in the basement. I moved the rack and one very sluggish baby squirrel scooted out. I trapped with a plastic bucket as the little bugger walked up a concrete wall. It started screeching and its sibling hiding near the rack started screeching as well. I slid some cardboard under the bucket and took the first one out and released in the woods then went back in abd trapped the other one and released it. In am not that big of a fan of the little vermin any more.

[Baitball Blogger]

35. Good thing they were not newborns.

They require a great deal special attention from the caregiver. But, it all worked out well. Good thing they weren't smart enough to hide when you came in.

BTW, I do have a story of squirrel gluttony. I had a bird feeder that was not squirrel proof. Usually, they weren't greedy. But this one squirrel stayed all day, I mean ALL day on its back in the feeder, eating.

The next day I walked out to the front of the house to get the paper and I saw this big huge squirrel splayed out on the driveway, dead. I figured it was Mr. Gluttony who had tried to get back home in the evening and was so big that it fatefully underestimated how much more it would have to jump from tree to tree to get back home.