Serial Attacker Squirrel Sends Two Calif. Residents to the ER After Pouncing: ‘I Was Full of Blood’

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Residents north of San Francisco are on edge after a squirrel reportedly attacked several people in a neighborhood, with at least two victims rushed to the emergency room.

Local news outlets reported that the wild squirrel has been seen in the Lucas Valley area of San Rafael, where it has aggressively pounced on unsuspecting passersby.

Surprise Attacks Turn Violent

Joan Heblack, who was taking a morning walk, described how the animal latched onto her leg out of nowhere. “It clamped onto my leg. The tail was flying up here. I was like, ‘Get it off me, get off me!’” she recalled.

Though small, the squirrel left deep claw marks on her skin. Heblack said the ordeal was “very scary,” adding that she never expected such an encounter while walking in her neighborhood.

Residents Left Bloodied and Hospitalized

Another resident, Isabel Campoy, was outside with her niece Carmen when the same squirrel allegedly attacked them. Campoy said the animal leapt toward her face, forcing her to shield herself with her arm.

“My arm was completely overcome by squirrel. Finally it jumped off, by then I was full of blood,” she said. Campoy’s injuries required an emergency room visit, leaving her with visible gashes.

Her niece Carmen described the shocking scene, saying she was stunned by how much blood the animal’s claws caused.

Experts Urge Caution Around Wildlife

Vanessa Potter of WildCare, a local wildlife organization, told ABC7 the attacks were unusual but not unheard of. She emphasized that rabies was unlikely in this case, but warned against feeding wild animals.

“If they associate people with food, they’re not afraid of them,” Potter explained. “They will look for food, and if they don’t get it, there can be frustrations.”

Not the First Squirrel Rampage

This is not the first time aggressive squirrels have made headlines. In 2021, more than a dozen people were injured over two days in Buckley, Wales, by a grey squirrel later nicknamed “Stripe.” And in 2020, several residents in Queens, New York, reported attacks in their neighborhood, even carrying homemade pepper spray for protection.

Have you ever had a close encounter with aggressive wildlife? Share your story in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.