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Crazy squirrel attacks residents of Vermont

by Justin Delaney (RSS feed) on Mar 17th 2011 at 12:01PM

In Bennington, Vermont, a gray squirrel has been terrorizing locals with his own brand of march madness. Perhaps harboring a vendetta against humans or possibly mad from rabies, the squirrel has attacked at least three separate people. The attacks have been described as an unprovoked flurry of scratching and biting.

The "Beast of Benington" attacked one resident, Kevin McDonald, while he was innocently shoveling snow in his front yard. According to the Bennington Banner, the squirrel jumped McDonald from behind, scratching at his back until being thrown off. The persistent squirrel came back for two rounds before McDonald retreated to his home and the squirrel disappeared into a nearby tree.

The next day, he saw his neighbor battling the same rodent with a metal pole and a blanket.

The local Game Warden has visited with several of the squirrel assault victims and reported that a woman that was bitten on the back of her neck will undergo a series of rabies vaccinations.

If your travels take you to Bennington, beware this hostile creature.

flickr image via bobolink

Filed under: Stories, North America, United States, News, Travel Health, Consumer Activism, Travel Security

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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)

mike Mar 18th 2011 11:30AM

terrorizing people a 1lb squirrel? rabid or just a attitude problem it's still just a squirrel, whack it with a ball bat, stomp on it, shoot it with a pellet gun, set a trap then sink the trap in a barrel of water, heck i kill dozens every year that raid my garden for gawd sakes its; a freaking squirrel just kill it

Lupe Gonzales Mar 18th 2011 12:00PM

Shooting this little guy is not the anwser, someone mention a trap? Come on people, use a trap, that way it can get checked out to see if it is sick or something. Common sense people!

once bitten Mar 18th 2011 12:09PM

I witnessed a squirrel attack in my own back yard--a friend was over and was making "squirrel noises" and one interested squirrel jumped on his back and bit his head. I went over, took my fist and hit the squirrel as hard as I could (those little monsters are ALL muscle!). It jumped off, we both grabbed nearby pieces of firewood and threw it at him, getting him once. He went over to the wood pile, shook his head and then bounded off. We took my friend to the emergency room, where he had stitches to his head, but no one could get any information on squirrel attacks, but we did find out that they do NOT carry rabies, so this person in the story is getting a round of rabies shots for NOTHING. Things like squirrel attacks really do happen, so it pays to be informed.

LPStarChaser Mar 18th 2011 12:12PM

I think I am in agreement with Annie and TrapperJohn. Trap the beastie, and see what the "Hades" it has. That way, the rest of the animal community can be protected from whatever it is that this lifeform has.

By the way, it is the Conservatives whose heads are walnuts. They believe wholeheartedly that functioning as part of a community is the opposite of sense and logic. "ME FIRST! And to Purgatory with the rest of humanity if I can screw them out of their work, their health and their benefit to society!"

The Boddhi they worship in their congregations states with no vacillation, "The rich man will have the same chance of attaining the Kingdom of GOD as threading a camel through the eye of a needle." Maybe this squirrel has a political agenda, like James O'Keefe and Andrew Breitbart. (Oh, I'm sorry, they are weasels!)

Fathertimema Mar 18th 2011 12:22PM

Shoot or posion the squirrel. Or trap it in a cage then take it several miles away and let it loose.

paistesmasher Mar 18th 2011 12:39PM

I once had the same thing happen to me. It was at a park in middletown n.y. I was playing a game of frisbee with a friend when all of a sudden and for no apparent reason one came at me and attacked. luckey for me i was holding the frisbee at the time and was able to fend him off (3 times). As it turned out we were a little to close to its home and babies,but i'll you what he was not going to let us get any closer.

Buffalo Mar 18th 2011 12:52PM

Tholzel I don't know what kind of BB gun you use, but a BB pistol can (and has) take out squirrels, no problem, easily from 20 yards out

Lou Mar 18th 2011 1:02PM

I beg to differ, I have a Daisy BB gun that has killed many squirrels and chipmunks until my wife made me promise to stop shooting them, and as you know being a dutiful husband I succomed to her request (I only do it when she's not around now)

ADKinLA Mar 18th 2011 1:34PM

This is what happens when you shut down the Paradise.

george Mar 18th 2011 1:35PM

if i was there??? hed be in a stew pot

Squirrelette Mar 18th 2011 1:35PM

I swear I would gladly adopt that squirrel and give him his "forever" home, a place of kindness, protection against humanity's sadism, and good solid Earth-friendly, tree-loving, animal-loving, vegetarian values. If it is possible, let some animal-control authority from Vermont contact AOL to get in touch with me. I mean it. And to the ugly sickos out there who joke about cruelty toward and killing of animals, getting run over or getting shot would be far better treatment than your ugly blubbery butts deserve. Too bad you can't manage to get laid even once and get rid of your ugly hostility toward the innocent and the beautiful that way. Ugly untouched old miserable virgins!

M Mar 18th 2011 1:37PM

This squirrel's life should be respected. He should be humanely live trapped and placed in a better environment where his biting habit might be of some use - North Korea.

lovecritters Mar 18th 2011 1:45PM

Maybe the little squirrel is trying to protect her babies!!!! A momma would go the distance for her babies.

Dan Mar 18th 2011 1:44PM

UHM...Has anybody looked for a NEST?...maybe it's a prtective parent?...Blue Jays commonly show this aggressive behavior and we're not breaking out the BB guns for them....& BB guns will not "Whack a SQUIRREL"...hmm THAT sounds like the premise of a cool new video game WHACK A SQUIRREL"...nice

Stephanie Mar 18th 2011 1:50PM

Squirrels do not carry rabies. He either has distemper, which can mimic neurological problems or is protecting a nest. My source,24 years working in animal control.

G'ma Mar 18th 2011 2:01PM

It may seem funny, but it isn't a joking matter. We had a similar occurrence in Ohio in the 60's. A squirrel was jumping out of the trees trying to get to us, attacking my neighbor and running her into the house on a number of occasions, even trying to get through her screen. It attacked and bit my 7 year old son while he was picking corn from the garden. My son ended up getting the first in a series of rabies shots before the game warden shot him by sitting for hours in the yard waiting. He had to be carefule not to shoot in the head as they needed the brain for testing for rabies. It turned out he was not rabid. We believe he had been hand raised and fed and was later turned loose to fend on his own.