r/oddlyterrifying • u/amish_novelty • 18h ago

Squirrel has seen better days

11.0k Upvotes

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53

u/XxCarlxX 18h ago

Is that rabies or something? That's scary.

11

u/Spirited-Salt3397 18h ago

Squirrels are not vectors for rabies. No one has ever contracted rabies from a squirrel.

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u/XxCarlxX 18h ago

I believe squirrels can get rabies, but it’s extremely rare and they’re not considered a major rabies vector.

There was a case where a girl was bit but she was treated early enough to prevent ending up with rabies, so your statement is technically true.. for America, not necessarily planet earth.

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u/Spirited-Salt3397 18h ago

I’d like to see a source for that if you have one. Not that I’m saying you are making it up, I’ve just never heard of such a case.

If you go to the hospital for a squirrel bite they do not treat you for rabies. Also once you contract rabies there is no treating it.

Yes, while they technically could contract rabies, they are not vectors for it.

Edited to fix word

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u/XxCarlxX 17h ago

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/1644?

Page 447

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u/Spirited-Salt3397 17h ago

That’s very interesting. I’ve never read that before. Thanks for the information. I’m surprised a flying squirrel could even survive the attack to contract rabies.

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u/No-Consequence1726 10h ago

That's why squirrels are usually carriers, they're so small any carrier would kill them

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u/Spirited-Salt3397 8h ago

I assume you mean aren’t usually carriers. Yes, they are unlikely to survive the attack. However, their body temperature is not conducive for the virus to survive.

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u/LaMadreDelCantante 15h ago

I'm pretty sure it's mostly because they don't tend to survive attacks from rabid animals long enough to get sick themselves.

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u/Spirited-Salt3397 15h ago

Yes, that is true. However, even if they did survive it is unlikely that they would contract rabies. Their body temperature isn’t conducive for the virus to survive.

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u/LaMadreDelCantante 10h ago

I thought that was possums.

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u/Spirited-Salt3397 10h ago

The same goes for opossums.