Over friendly squirrel

[Daph60]

Hi all, I am new to this forum, and I have a question. There is a black squirrel living around my co-op who is extremely friendly. I always carry peanuts in my pocket and throw them to squirrels when I see them. But this one has started coming up to me and following me, and today it came to a head when he actually ran up my leg and onto my shoulder, he was perfectly friendly, I gave him the nut and he ran away. But now I'm concerned as some people have said squirrels can carry rabies or fleas and I obviously don't want to catch anything or give it to my cats. Do you have any idea why the squirrel would be so friendly and if it is a problem? Thanks!

[TubeDriver]

Squirrels almost NEVER carry rabies, there are virtually no documented cases of squirrel to human transmission of rabies. Like virtually all wild animals, they can have fleas but they are different then the more common dog/cat flea.

If too many people feed a wild squirrel, it can get very comfortable around people. Squirrels can give a very painful bite so be careful. Perhaps try placing any treats on the ground and don't hand feed them. This squirrel does sound unusally friendly but it does happen occasionally.



Hi all, I am new to this forum, and I have a question. There is a black squirrel living around my co-op who is extremely friendly. I always carry peanuts in my pocket and throw them to squirrels when I see them. But this one has started coming up to me and following me, and today it came to a head when he actually ran up my leg and onto my shoulder, he was perfectly friendly, I gave him the nut and he ran away. But now I'm concerned as some people have said squirrels can carry rabies or fleas and I obviously don't want to catch anything or give it to my cats. Do you have any idea why the squirrel would be so friendly and if it is a problem? Thanks!

[Floppysquirrel04]

Squirrels dont carry rabies. Well actually the technically can but it is really rare. Usually, if an animal had rabies, it would have to bite and transmit saliva to pass on rabies. The bite would usually kill a little squirrel.. also, the saliva isn't where front teeth on a squirrel is, so they wouldn't transmit saliva. Usually you would know if an animal had rabies because it would be foaming at the mouth and acting weird.

It is possible that someone in that area tamed up the squirrel and made friends with it, making it think everyone was friendly. Or it could be it was rehabbed and never got its fear of people.

As long as you wash up before you come in contact with your cats you should be ok. Also, peanuts aren't that good for squirrels, at all. Try something else like fruit or veggies, or walnuts, pecans or almonds. Squirrels do usually carry fleas and sometimes mites, so touching said squirrel isn't a good idea, for you, your cats, other people's, and the squirrels safety.

[Daph60]

Thank you both, this is very helpful. What a great site!


Squirrels dont carry rabies. Well actually the technically can but it is really rare. Usually, if an animal had rabies, it would have to bite and transmit saliva to pass on rabies. The bite would usually kill a little squirrel.. also, the saliva isn't where front teeth on a squirrel is, so they wouldn't transmit saliva. Usually you would know if an animal had rabies because it would be foaming at the mouth and acting weird.

It is possible that someone in that area tamed up the squirrel and made friends with it, making it think everyone was friendly. Or it could be it was rehabbed and never got its fear of people.

As long as you wash up before you come in contact with your cats you should be ok. Also, peanuts aren't that good for squirrels, at all. Try something else like fruit or veggies, or walnuts, pecans or almonds. Squirrels do usually carry fleas and sometimes mites, so touching said squirrel isn't a good idea, for you, your cats, other people's, and the squirrels safety.

[stepnstone]

Curious... Does said squirrel appear to be an adult squirrel or a juvenile? :fellini:fluff2
What you described is not uncommon for orphaned young.

Bear in mind if you are "hand feeding" a squirrel, due to position of their eyes
they do not see that well close up. Thus the reason many folks have gotten
a bitten finger mistaken for the nut.

[Daph60]

Curious... Does said squirrel appear to be an adult squirrel or a juvenile? :fellini:fluff2
What you described is not uncommon for orphaned young.

Bear in mind if you are "hand feeding" a squirrel, due to position of their eyes
they do not see that well close up. Thus the reason many folks have gotten
a bitten finger mistaken for the nut.

Sorry, thought I responded. It's an adult squirrel. I've since found out that he was apparently orphaned and looked after in someone's home. Since then that person has died and now he just wants to go into other people's houses.

[stepnstone]

Sorry, thought I responded. It's an adult squirrel. I've since found out that he was apparently orphaned and looked after in someone's home. Since then that person has died and now he just wants to go into other people's houses.

Damn! So I suppose once the "caretaker" passed "someone" just thought to kick him to the curb...
Fanhttp://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/angry/smiley-face-swearing.giftastic!! Poor confused lost baby. :(

[TubeDriver]

:( Poor little guy. Do you have any idea how long he has been outside?

[Daph60]

Damn! So I suppose once the "caretaker" passed "someone" just thought to kick him to the curb...
Fanhttp://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/angry/smiley-face-swearing.giftastic!! Poor confused lost baby. :(

I know, it's really awful. I think I should call the Wildlife Centre in Toronto to see if they can rehabilitate him.

[Daph60]

:( Poor little guy. Do you have any idea how long he has been outside?

sorry for not responding sooner, I don't seem to get on here very often. I think it's been about 1 1/2 years so not sure how he managed during the cold last winter.

[Peaches]

If he's been outside for a yr and a half then he is fine on his own. He just hasn't gotten a fear of people and still looks for a handout when he see's them.

[cava]

I would like to add that it's a bold move to feed any wild animal by hand. It's safer to toss it near by and let them go for it. This coming from a woman who has been bitten by 15 different species of animals and lived to tell about it. :grin2 (Because she insisted on feeding stranger animals by hand...)

[TubeDriver]

If he's been outside for a yr and a half then he is fine on his own. He just hasn't gotten a fear of people and still looks for a handout when he see's them.

:goodpost

[Daph60]

I would like to add that it's a bold move to feed any wild animal by hand. It's safer to toss it near by and let them go for it. This coming from a woman who has been bitten by 15 different species of animals and lived to tell about it. :grin2 (Because she insisted on feeding stranger animals by hand...)

I haven't fed him by hand though, I always throw the food on the ground, it's just that he jumps on me! So I lean forward and drop the nut down and then he jumps off. I just re-read my earlier posts and realize I must have misled people as I seemed to suggest I was hand-feeding which wasn't the case. Sorry!