NEW YORK (WCBS-TV) – Some people who live in a Queens neighborhood are afraid to leave their home. That’s because there have been several aggressive squirrel attacks in the past few weeks, Hazel Sanchez of WCBS-TV reported on Tuesday.
Micheline Frederick is still hurt. Her bite wounds are healing after she was attacked by a squirrel a week ago. “You hear someone was bitten by a squirrel and you’re like, ‘Okay, you have a little tip, what’s the matter?’ But that was … it was an MMA fight in the cage! And I lost! ”Frederick said.
She said the squirrel, totally unprovoked, went after her while she was standing on the porch of her home in Rego Park, on 65th Drive. She shared graphic photos of the consequences.
(Photo: Micheline Frederick))
“We are fighting in the snow and there is blood everywhere and my fingers are being chewed and he will not let go,” said Frederick. “Eventually, he just stopped and there I was in a big bloody mess.”
The image from a security camera shows the squirrel clinging to his left hand. Several of Frederick’s neighbors were also terrorized by the furious rodent, including Vinati Singh’s family. They were taping the squirrel in his mailbox when he attacked.
“These squirrels are aggressively chasing people,” said Singh.
She said that one went after her husband twice.
“He basically grabbed the plastic bag I had, tried to get on my leg. I was able to chase them away. That was the first time. The second time was right here when I tried to get in, ”he said.
Last week, Licia Wang said she was walking to her home on 65th Drive when a squirrel jumped on her back and bit her arm.
(Photo: Micheline Frederick)
“I was screaming! Crazy! “Said Wang.
The victims said they called the city for help. The Health Department said it advised them to hire a state-licensed hunter, which they have been doing, but so far the traps remain empty.
The Centers for Disease Control say that small rodents like squirrels are almost never rabies. Therefore, not knowing what is causing the squirrels’ aggressive behavior is worrying for many people living in the area.
“I am a little surprised that the city is not taking this a little more seriously, considering how many people were attacked,” said Singh.
She said she is still being treated for rabies as a precaution, adding that this is a good reminder that although squirrels are cute, they are still wild animals.
Hazel Sanchez of CBS2 contributed to this report
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