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Squirrel On A Plane
Earlier today, pilots aboard an American Airlines flight traveling from Tokyo to Dallas heard unusual noises coming from the wires above the cockpit. According to John Hotard, AA's spokesman, "You do not want a varmint up in the wiring areas and what-have-you on an airplane. You don't want anything up there." Unsure what kind of varmint might be up in the what-have-you, the pilots decided to stop in Honolulu to investigate.
The varmint turned out to be an eastern gray squirrel. Neither AA nor the Agriculture Department can explain how the squirrel accessed the plane, though I'm suspicious it might have something to do with TSA's less than watchful eye.
In the end, the human passengers were provided hotel rooms and rebooked on other flights. The squirrel enjoyed a far less pleasant Hawaii visit, however. Fearing it may have been carrying rabies, authorities had the rodent killed.
[Photo: Terry Lea]
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
russell Mar 16th 2008 11:21AM
Didn't I see that on Furturama once?? Or maybe The Tick...but how would they work the pedels with those short stubby legs?
Beth Mar 15th 2008 1:13AM
Squirrels are real cute unless you have them living in your basement or attic. We trapped one in the basement after it threw stuff all over my pantry and ate through all the food and paper goods. Scraped all around my basement windows - what a mess!! Recently there were others in my attic. My son (wrestler Brimstone) went up there to get something and a baby came out to him. We fed it and let it go outside. Then I heard more running around upstairs and caught one. I'm pretty sure there's still one left, but I can imagine the mess up there!!!
Anyone who thinks they are cute can come over and get mine!!!!!
Carmen Mar 16th 2008 11:50AM
there are easier ways to get them to leave
fix your roof for starters
also call a rehabber
Gloria Owens Apr 1st 2008 9:35PM
I WONDER IF THEY FRIED HIM UP AND MADE GRAVY.
Scot Apr 12th 2008 7:05PM
Just for a source reference on Rabies...The centers for disease control has the following to say:
"All warm-blooded animals are susceptible to rabies infection, although only a few are reservoirs for the diesease"
In other words any mammal can get the disease but only certain species are known for carrying it.
See the following link for more info:
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/history.html
Ray Jun 1st 2008 8:37PM
If u need squrrels man I'm over run with them.
bforr@aol.com Aug 24th 2008 2:46PM
HERE'S A THOUGHT. TAKE AN AIRPLANE LIKE THE B-777, WHICH IS FLY BY WIRE (NOPE...NO CABLES, NO HYDRAULICS, JUST ELECTRONS) AND LET THE CUTE LITTLE DEVIL CHEW ON THE WIRES. THEN... NOT ONLY WILL THE PASSENGERS BE PASSENGERS, BUT THE PILOTS WILL BE TOO. BACK UP? NOPE. HAVE A NICE FLIGHT.
jgordon367 Aug 24th 2008 7:43PM
Its more a matter of introducing a species and the various strains of disease into an area where its not native. I can certainly see why they wouldnt release it in Hawaii but they could have kept and put in in a crate for a flight back to the states. A rehabiltiation facility would have taken it and checked it for disease.
Squirrels do carry rabies although its not common. There was an incident recently in Virginia of Eastern Grey Squirrels being found rabid.
~~~~
Rabies and Squirrels: An Overview
Squirrels are almost never found to be infected with the rabies virus. Squirrels also have not been known to cause rabies in humans within the United States. Bites from a squirrel are not considered a risk for rabies unless the animal was sick or behaving in an unusual manner, and rabies is widespread in the area.
In all cases regarding rabies and squirrels, consult the state or local health department before making a decision to begin rabies treatment.
What About Rabies in Other Rodents?
Besides squirrels, other small rodents (such as rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and chipmunks,) and lagomorphs (such as rabbits and hares) are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have also not been known to cause rabies among humans in the United States.
However, from 1985 through 1994, woodchucks accounted for 86 percent of the 368 cases of rabies among rodents reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Woodchucks or groundhogs (Marmota monax) are frequently the only rodents that may be submitted to state health departments because of a suspicion of rabies.
Barry Evans Dec 31st 2008 3:39PM
All squirrels should be shot anyway ;)
Stylish girl Feb 15th 2007 8:09PM
Hey! You've got a nice squirrel!:-)
Kevin Parker Feb 16th 2007 11:20PM
Here's a lead for a good follow-up story regarding the Stowaway Squirrel that invaded Hawaii. Evidently, an eastern gray squirrel (S.carolinensis) placed so much fear in the hearts of both state and federal government officials, the taskforce ordered the squirrel killed and an autopsy performed.
The results of the autopsy were released today, February 16th. and suprisingly the squirrel tested negative for rabies.
Of course both the State of Hawaii and the United States Federal Government knew prior to ordering the taskforce to carry out the execution, that the reults would be negative.
The reason it was already known that the rabies test would be negative is: There is no record or evidence anywhere in the United States of any squirrel ever infecting a human with rabies. Neither are squirrels known to pass rabies on to any other living creature. It just doesn't happen. One of God's little mysteries.
Terri Apr 1st 2008 12:33PM
This is not surprising, that the squirrels came up negative for rabies.....they cannot get or carry rabies!
Cats, dogs, raccoons,horses, goats, cows, and people can get rabies, but spuirrels cannot. So, killing that little guy was not something that needed to be done!
They should know their stuff before they snuff!