When a dog bites a man, that’s not news, but how about when a squirrel bites one?
A 78-year-old Slidell man sustained significant injuries in a squirrel attack. It all started Wednesday morning, says Slidell Police Department spokesman Daniel Seuzeneau, with a call to 9-1-1.
“We received a 9-1-1 call from somebody stating that a 78-year-old elderly man was actively being attacked by a squirrel and ‘the squirrel was eating the man’s hand,'” he said.
Seuzeneau says emergency responders quickly made their way to the scene as the man attempted to fend off the squirrel. When they arrived the victim was attempting to choke the squirrel but he wasn’t able to get a grip on the animal.
“When we got there, one of the firemen was able to get the squirrel off of the elderly gentleman,” said Seuzeneau. “The squirrel passed away as a result of that attack.”
The gentleman was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for significant injuries, though he is expected to make a full recovery. ER doctors have requested to examine the squirrel to test for any possible diseases. The cause of the attack is unknown, and in general, they aren’t common.
“I did my due diligence to research squirrel attacks,” Seuzeneau said. “There’s really not a lot of information on it. There’s no official studies. Maybe this might start a study.”
This is the second reported squirrel attack in Slidell this year. The first happened in February during a Mardi Gras parade where three people were injured.
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