Actually, that is not an uncommon behavior among juvenile squirrels
Larry Send a noteboard - 12/04/2011 11:18:52 AM
It's one thing if this baby squirrel was just unafraid...but he was pointedly approaching any and all humans. Even if rabies is not common in squirrels, it's not unheard of. Obviously it's different in Sweden, but in the states it is drilled into veterinary student minds "mammal+neuro signs? DO NOT EVER ignore rabies". The only time you can rule out rabies is when the animal lives too long with its neurological signs to have had rabies. Yes, the shot does HELP, but it's not a cure-all...and if you don't get vaccinated until symptoms show it does not matter at all.
Just because it HASN'T happened does not mean it CAN'T. I'd feel pretty shitty if some kid got rabies from a squirrel on MY watch. If I didn't have my ass sued off in this country
As for why he just sprayed it and stood there, I'm not sure what was going on, but I'm not sure we can judge him too harshly given that the video does not continue very long past the spraying and we can't really see the surroundings (or even all of the cop very clearly). It could be someone was standing just off to the side with a box and they didn't want to approach the writhing squirrel in case the pain made it bite. Or any number of reasons why he didn't immediately move to recover the squirrel *Shrug* I could be giving them too much benefit of the doubt, but I just don't think we have enough information as to what was going on. It's not like they didn't catch it in the end anyways. They did, the squirrel was apparently fine (I hope...) and released. No harm, no foul, eh?
Just because it HASN'T happened does not mean it CAN'T. I'd feel pretty shitty if some kid got rabies from a squirrel on MY watch. If I didn't have my ass sued off in this country
As for why he just sprayed it and stood there, I'm not sure what was going on, but I'm not sure we can judge him too harshly given that the video does not continue very long past the spraying and we can't really see the surroundings (or even all of the cop very clearly). It could be someone was standing just off to the side with a box and they didn't want to approach the writhing squirrel in case the pain made it bite. Or any number of reasons why he didn't immediately move to recover the squirrel *Shrug* I could be giving them too much benefit of the doubt, but I just don't think we have enough information as to what was going on. It's not like they didn't catch it in the end anyways. They did, the squirrel was apparently fine (I hope...) and released. No harm, no foul, eh?
Younger squirrels have not learned to be afraid of humans or other potential predators in the way that 4+ month squirrels have. Their behavior, from what I understand talking to a squirrel rescuer at an old job and reading online, is more apt to seek out company, before shifting into the more possessive, skittish behavior as they grow and mature. What I saw on that video was not all that uncommon; I see similar movements from young squirrels just leaving the nest many mornings outside.
That being said, maybe now that squirrel will be more open to joining the rabid squirrel army
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Rampaging baby squirrel pepper sprayed by Texas cop
- 11/04/2011 06:01:33 AM
1131 Views
What an idiot
- 11/04/2011 01:39:47 PM
572 Views
Yes because it's very easy to grab a squirrel 
- 11/04/2011 03:00:05 PM
534 Views
- 11/04/2011 03:00:05 PM
534 Views
The squirrel was running towards him, which simplifies matter a lot
- 11/04/2011 11:44:24 PM
578 Views
well...if he thought it was rabid and didn't know how bad an effect the spray would have...
- 11/04/2011 02:48:17 PM
614 Views
I am with you. If the the squirrel was bothering them enough for someone to call the police that is
- 11/04/2011 11:23:35 PM
463 Views
A Red Neck's opinion.
- 11/04/2011 11:51:11 PM
591 Views
I'm pretty sure that it's totally illegal to try to shoot a squirrel on a school campus *NM*
- 12/04/2011 01:44:01 AM
225 Views
*NM*
- 12/04/2011 01:44:01 AM
225 Views
I totally missed the rabies thing
- 12/04/2011 12:01:04 AM
488 Views
yah, the big red flag for me was the ATTRACTION to humans
- 12/04/2011 01:53:27 AM
489 Views
Actually, that is not an uncommon behavior among juvenile squirrels
- 12/04/2011 11:18:52 AM
587 Views
Is that so uncommon among those aggressive grey squirrels you've got over there?
- 14/04/2011 09:44:03 PM
515 Views
I checked with my dog
- 12/04/2011 02:06:39 AM
450 Views
Probably makes them easier to catch 
*NM*
- 12/04/2011 02:33:53 AM
261 Views
*NM*
- 12/04/2011 02:33:53 AM
261 Views
*NM*