A squirrel. Drawing. – Elli Stattaus
Covid-19, confinement, snowstorm… and now violent squirrels. The inhabitants of
New York will not have been spared in this year 2020. Residents of the Rego Park district in Queens, east of the city, have indeed complained of several squirrel attacks in recent months. A woman even had to go to hospital after a bite to her hand, local media reported.
“He bit or scratched my neck, I had to try to reach it with my hands then it turned into a wrestling match and I lost”, said Michelin Frederick, assaulted on December 21 , to the radio station WABC. Her hands were covered in blood and bruises and she had to be vaccinated against rabies as a precaution.
Pepper spray to defend yourself
She is particularly worried about the neighborhood children. Another resident explained that she now moves with pepper spray to defend herself in the event of an attack by climbing rodents.
New York health officials have advised residents to hire a professional to deal with this local wildlife problem. “Squirrels and other small rodents are rarely carriers of rabies,” said city services in a statement.
The New York City Parks Management Department has warned residents against distributing food to squirrels, which accustom them to human contact.
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