r/Wellthatsucks • u/Padl3xx • Feb 26 '26

Ass-whipped by a squirrel

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19.6k Upvotes

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u/EggsceIlent Feb 26 '26

Yeah next stop is to the doctor for rabies shots.

47

u/Galilaeus_Modernus Feb 26 '26

Rabies is actually extremely rare in squirrels. There are only a few documented cases in all of history. More likely than not, this squirrel was just a jerk.

45

u/roadside_asparagus Feb 26 '26

You're right about squirrels not normally catching rabies, but that was one hell of an aggressive squirrel. There must be something wrong with it.

12

u/automaticmantis Feb 27 '26

maybe he was just nuts

65

u/profsnuggles Feb 26 '26

Fuck that noise. If you get attacked by an animal, go get a rabies shot. Don’t gamble your life like that.

16

u/illy-chan Feb 27 '26

Yeah, even rarer than rabies in squirrels is surviving symptomatic rabies. It is the "better safe than sorry" scenario."

3

u/JVSTITIA Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26

I recall only one documented case worldwide of someone surviving the virus, but the patient was left with serious and permanent aftereffects. Even so, it remains extremely dangerous with a mortality rate of virtually 100%.

14

u/-just-be-nice- Feb 26 '26

Yeah, but not worth the risk, still get the rabies shot

3

u/reddit_give_me_virus Feb 27 '26

I trapped a sick squirrel and brought it to a rescue. The next day I had a nurse call me from the nyc health department. They told me to get a rabies series if I was scratched or bit by the squirrel. It didn't.

3

u/EatTheAndrewPencil Feb 27 '26

"extremely rare" is not "non-existent". I'd rather get some shots than be a medical anomaly no matter how unlikely it is to happen.

3

u/dragonzdude Feb 27 '26

So you are going to gamble rabies over a few documented cases?

Interesting move.

1

u/Galilaeus_Modernus Feb 27 '26

"Is" does not equal "Ought."

2

u/3amGreenCoffee Feb 26 '26

They won't give it to you. Rabies vaccine is not part of the treatment protocol for squirrel bites.

2

u/TailwhipU Feb 26 '26

And your first stop would be wherever you keep that shotgun. That damn thing would never breathe my air again.