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Milo's Mom
10-18-2019, 11:11 AM
Do we happen to have any info from a proven trustworthy source on the PSI of the average grey squirrel bite? If anyone has info they are willing to share, please state the source as well please. Thanks all!

vix66
10-18-2019, 12:17 PM
Hi
not sure what PSI means. However my 3 legged squirrel bit me about 8 weeks ago, to the bone. Its okay...ish, but I'm still not able to bend it or use it properly. It hasn't killed me, painful yes, but it didn't get infected. I haven't picked her up since and she has become a bit aggressive. She is forgiven as its her instinct, but I have gloves now :) I just have to see what her mood is like if she wants fuss or not.

TubeDriver
10-18-2019, 02:31 PM
It is extraordinarily high.

scientific articles:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3237878/

https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/89/2/513/938593


Cliff notes found on internet:

Gray squirrels have a bite force of around 7,000 pounds per square inch (psi). For comparison:


Human - Bite Force : 500 psi
7 Grizzly Bear – Bite Force : 1200 psi. ...
6 Gorilla – Bite Force : 1300 psi. ...
5 Jaguar : 2000 psi. ...
4 Hippopotamus – Bite Force : 1825 psi. ...
3 American Alligator – Bite Force : 2125 psi. ...
2 Saltwater Crocodile – Bite Force : 3690 psi. ...
1 Nile Crocodile – Bite Force : 5000 psi.

redwuff
10-18-2019, 02:49 PM
Yikes!!!

TubeDriver
10-18-2019, 02:59 PM
To be fair, these estimates are probably just that... estimates. Animals don't always bite the hardest they can, and there is no easy way to test a lot of this. But it is pretty certain that in the case of a panicked, scared squirrel who is biting as hard as it can, the teeth are going to penetrate into the bone of the poor bitee.

CritterMom
10-18-2019, 03:25 PM
Keetz's sweet little Chicklet once bit all the way through my thumb (met in the middle and ground around for a bit) and I have to say that in my estimation, 7000 psi sounds about right.

They drill through black walnut shells!

Milo's Mom
10-18-2019, 08:10 PM
Thank you all. What you all just posted is exactly what I was finding at every turn. Just couldn't believe it was that high. Checked a few more sources and everything matches.