Vicious squirrel sends 2 San Rafael, California residents to ER after neighbors report series of frightening attacks

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) — In the North Bay, some neighbors are on alert this week after a series of frightening attacks on people — all perpetrated by a vicious squirrel. The injuries needed quick medical attention.

“It clamped onto my leg. The tail was flying up here. I was like, ‘Get it off me, get off me!’ I didn’t want to touch it,” said Joan Heblack.

It’s the last thing Joan Heblack expected on her morning walk through Lucas Valley in San Rafael.

“It came out of nowhere. I didn’t see him running up to me at all,” Heblack said.

Heblack, suddenly attacked by a squirrel, which clawed and bit her legs. The wounds were bad enough that she went to the ER.

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“Very scary. How do you get a squirrel attached to your leg off,” Heblack said.

“This is beautiful, now it’s following us, until she almost killed me,” said Isabel Campoy.

Campoy and her niece Carmen were also attacked while walking in the same area off Mount Lassen Drive.

“Squirrel went from the floor tried to jump up to my face, I tried to protect my face, my arm was completely overcome by squirrel. Finally it jumped off, by then I was full of blood, I run to the emergency room,” Campoy said.

When I saw the blood on her arm, I said, ‘Oh my god,” said Carmen Campoy.

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Flyers are now posted, alerting residents about the incidents. Neighbors say about five people have been attacked, possibly by the same squirrel, with a goldish color. it’s also been the talk of Nextdoor.

“Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of,” said Vanessa Potter from WildCare in San Rafael.

Potter said squirrels are not vectors for rabies. The aggressive behavior was likely due to the animal being fed and cared for by humans when it was small.

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

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Experts warn the public against feeding wild animals.

In the meantime, neighbors are enjoying the outdoors but watching their backs. Campoy is trying to heal and move forward.

“It hurts to touch the skin. I am putting my best power and mind in order to say I’ll survive this,” Campoy said.

Neighbors say there has been no sign of the suspected squirrel in several days.