The kids were hand feeding one of the squirrels in our backyard popcorn when it scratched Matthew- broke the skin but didn't draw blood. I've seen this squirrel on action enough not to consider it a mad squirrel. Matthew isn't upset- he thinks it's funny. Should I call the doc?
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
Yes. Things that carry rabies and other diseases don't necessarily show the signs, and just because it didn't draw blood doesn't mean bacteria couldn't get into his system.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
They're on lunch, I'm calling in 15 minutes.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Squirrels are not a primary carrier, but they can be a carrier.
However, since it was a scratch instead of a bite, I wouldn't be as concerned. I mean the person didn't come in contact with the bodily fluids (blood or saliva) of the squirrel.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Thanks for the link. I left a message with the ped and am waiting for a call back.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
It was probably Foamy.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
quote:However, since it was a scratch instead of a bite, I wouldn't be as concerned. I mean the person didn't come in contact with the bodily fluids (blood or saliva) of the squirrel.
That's what I thought too, FG.
Blayne: Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Squirrels. They have a reputation as benign beings. In truth, they are ruthless killers. You might think, aw, they just eat nuts and seeds. Wrong! Baby birds and other small creatures are very tasty to these rats-with-tails. Also, they can become addicted to nicotine from eating cigarette butts in the garbage, or off the ground. When we learned this, one of my students said, "Aha! So that is why a squirrel kept jumping at my aunt when she was smoking a cigarette on the porch!"
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Not to be really scary, but the squirrel might have but his little squirrel hands in his little squirrel mouth when he was eating his little squirrel meal, contaminating his little squirrel hands with saliva.
I had lots of fun with squirrels one day this summer. If you fold a business card in half, it looks like a tiny newspaper. I put some peanut butter on the inside of the fold and left a few of these out on the back porch. After a while, the squirrels smelled peanut butter and came around to investigate. They licked the peanut butter off the cards by holding the cards in their two squirrel hands and holding it up to their faces. They kind of sit upright and it looks as if they are reading the newspaper. This is a lot of fun to see. But even better was when it turned out that there were not enough newpapers to go around. The squirrels without newspapers started chasing the squirrels with newspapers. They chased up and down the porch, on the fence, up and down trees, over to the garage and back to the porch. The squirrels with the newpapers would tuck the papers betweeen their teeth and run as fast as they could. Whenever they felt as if they had built up a comfortable lead, they would remove the newspaper from their mouths and "read" again, tucking it in the mouth again and running away when the pursuing squirrel got too close.
It was a hot riot! The show went on for over a half hour until the peanut butter was all gone.
Moral: if you want to feed the squirrels, provide them with squirrel newspapers.
Posted by The Amazing Squirrel Boy (Member # 5158) on :
romanylass: I apologize on behalf of my furry brethren.
Elizabeth: That was just hurtful and unwarranted.
Also, I'm pretty sure that rats have tails, too. Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
But they are cute ruthless killers.
Oh my, Tante, sounds like somehting to videotape!!
(Still haven't heard from the doc).
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Squirrels are not cute when they tear holes in our kitchen screens and destroy my bread. Not just once, either, at least 3-4 times. And the ceiling of the kitchen below me has a hole in it due to a squirrel.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Just have another cigarette, The Amazing Squirrel Boy. You'll calm right down!
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
Tante that is hilarious! Did you get pictures?
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
The ped called back. He said he wasn't concerned with rabies, and just to watch for signs of infection.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I would be more worried about the poor infulence those squirrels have on youngsters, Romanylass. They steal, smoke, and all sorts of other things.
And I also want a picture of the squirrels reading the "paper!"
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Our squirels don't smoke. Stealing, though....
Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
Elizabeth, remember they also inspire kids to eat their neighbors' children.
My history teacher back in high school said he hated them because they stole his sandwiches whenever he went pickniking. However you spell that.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
When I was 4 or 5 years old, someone told me that wild animals can carry rabies. I spent the next few years in utter screaming terror of squirrels, refusing to even go in the yard if one was there.
I'm glad that is one phobia I outgrew.
Posted by bunbun (Member # 6814) on :
Um, if I may, being treated for rabies is extremely unpleasant. I emphasize extremely. Extremely.
I'm sure you've already covered this with your kids, but otherwise wild animals (or otherwise "people fearing" animals) coming after you can be a sign of rabies--in its final stages.
The raccoon experience has left me very, very cagey. [/soapbox] Thank you for letting me share.
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
Our squirrels here in Fresno are all high-wire walkers. I was just sitting here at my computer the other day and glanced out to see one walking the phone wire I can see from the window.
Very talented squirrels we have here.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Talented, littlemissattitude? I call that extreme risk-taking, which fits the profile of the squirrile delinquent personality. They just don't care what happens to them. They are detached from society. And that makes them dangerous.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
If walking the phone wire makes squirrels talented, then we've got talented squirrels here, too. Our squirrels also come in the house (through an open window) and climb the drapes in our living room. Until we chase it out.
I like squirrels. From afar. As in, not close.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Elizabeth, if you keep profiling squirels this way, they're going to file suit.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I will take the risk, romanylass. They are, among other mentioned things, terrorists, pure and simple. Not very smart ones, either. Their bodies, littered about roadways from Boston to San Diego, are evidence of an attempt to play the heartstrings of American drivers. They figure they can take us out one by one, or, if they are lucky, create a 500 car pile-up, when nature-loving Americans swerve to avoid their road crossings. Just look at their success rate, though. Not high. Not high at all.
Posted by calaban (Member # 2516) on :
Two years ago I was working a 12hr grave and about ten every morning when I was in the midst of slumber a big 'ol grey squirrel would get outside my window and chitter like the world was going to end. I hated that squirrel.
This squirrel was so loud and obnoxious we started calling it psycho squirrel.
It would sit up in it's tree and chitter at my cat, who would meow frustratedly and pace back and forth for a few minutes. Finally in a burst of aggrivated energy my cat would shoot up the tree only to find his nemisis mocking him from three trees away.
I haven't heard that squirrel for quite some time. I think he got wise and stopped teasing my cat. Or maybe the cat finally got him.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Just in case bunbun was worried...
I outgrew my terror of squirrels, not my healthy respect of wild animals in general. That is to say, seeing a squirrel won't send me running in a panic into the nearest building.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
When I was a kid, we declared War on the Squirrels that insisted on raiding the birdfeeder.
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
Oh, I think you all are giving the squirrels a bad rap. When I was at university, I used to sit out on a bench by the library on nice days to eat my lunch sometimes. When I did, very often a squirrel would come join me. I'd sit on the bench with my lunch spread out there, and the squirrel would bring his (her?) lunch and sit on the lawn beside me and eat lunch, too, in companionable silence.
On the other hand, where I used to live, there was this blue jay...It would come every single blessed morning at certain times of the year and tap, tap, tap on one bedroom window, the same window every time, as if it wanted to come in. This went on periodically for years. It was extremely loud and extremely annoying.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Liz, have you talked to Homeland Security about your theory?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Well, romanylass, I thought about it, but I figured they would just make things worse.
If they took over the case, every rodent would be under scrutiny.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
Ever seen a family of albino midget squirrels? Very very cute.
Posted by Marek (Member # 5404) on :
I have seen a ton of albino squirrels, there were several of them on campus at the University of Louisville, those squirrels are almost the least afraid of humans of any squirrels i have ever seen.
The ones who are the least afraid are the seemingly over fed squirrels ate parks in washington D.C. . They are not at all apprehensive of people, and will try to eat anything a human drops, food, scraps, or paper, even coins.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Marek, those are the addicted-to-nicotine squirrels, because they eat cigarette butts. Also, they get to where they don;t want to eat their natural food anymore. Which is good for the baby birds, of course.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"With the exception of instances such as those last year involving squirrels eating cigarette butts, becoming nicotine addicts, going crazy and attacking smokers, there really aren't too many reasons to hate squirrels. Sure, they ravage our campsites, throw nuts at us from the safety of their tree branches and even attempt to eat infants on occasion, but that does not negate the fact that this is still their week."
"Rehabilitation can be hard from an addicting substance. Fortunately, humans have now been coming up with ways to quit smoking for a while now. These include, gum, patches, hypnosis, cold turkey, and weaning oneself from them. Unfortunately, rodents are wild animals. This means that gum, patches, and hypnosis are out of the question. In addition, the requirements of the plan rule out cold turkey."
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote: Tante that is hilarious! Did you get pictures?
I didn't take pictures, but if you want to see it, all you need are some business cards and peanut butter.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Well, the friskied frenzy of mating madness going on in my backyard between the squirrels is rather . . . hmmm, how shall I say it delicately?
I dunno - but these are NOT innocent little critters. The mating dance is reminescent of tavern tales at their worst.
*shudders*
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Feed them M&Ms sometime . . . it'd fun to see then try to figure out what to do with them . Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
You wanna be mean? Leave chiclets. They chew and chew and chew and chew and don't know to spit it out or swallow.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Oh I want to try that one on our evil squirrels. One of them is definately building a nest in the roof and anything I can do to stop it or make it feel unwelcome would be fun to watch.
Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
A couple days ago I was standing outside having a conversation with two friends...when suddenly, right in the middle of the conversation, one of my friends saw a squirrel sitting on the path. So she immediately took off after the squirrel, shouting, "Wheeeee!", and chased it up a tree.
~Jane~
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Is your friend some kind of unleashed dog?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
quote:Originally posted by kojabu: Oh I want to try that one on our evil squirrels. One of them is definately building a nest in the roof and anything I can do to stop it or make it feel unwelcome would be fun to watch.
Um, well, about EVIL, kojabu, you do live in the City of Evil, after all. The squirrels there would have to be pretty evil, more so than naturally.
I'll bet the squirrels in Ithaca shun TV and fight for human rights causes. (After licking off the peanut butter, they make protest signs with the business cards).
What's wrong with that?
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Laughing out loud at the thought of picketing woodland creatures...
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Oh, if I knew how to use Photoshop....
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Well, you would have to make sure the squirrel was reading "The Nation."
Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: Is your friend some kind of unleashed dog?
No, my friend is a 19-year-old college student.
Hence the .
~Jane~
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
JaneX lives in a city of evil just like Ithaca. These liberal hold-out areas are tough on squirrels.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: Laughing out loud at the thought of picketing woodland creatures...
Oh man, there was this whole big protest thing a few months ago relating to Cornell wanting to remove a bunch of trees and turn it into a parking lot. People got arrested, people weren't allowed to graduate, it was crazy.
But, oh man, I could see the squirrels digging that campaign!
Here are some links about the Redbud Woods Protest if you're interested in what happened (most of us thought they were crazy...)(they're in chronological order too):
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)