In San Rafael, California, some residents are on high alert following a series of alarming attacks by an aggressive squirrel. These incidents have resulted in injuries that required immediate medical care.
“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.
“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.
“The squirrel leapt from the ground towards my face, and I tried to protect myself, but it latched onto my arm,” Campoy recounted. “Eventually, the squirrel released me, but I was covered in blood and rushed to the emergency room.”
When I saw the blood on her arm, I said, “Oh my God,” said Carmen Campoy.
Flyers have been put up to warn the community about these events. Residents report that approximately five people have fallen victim, possibly to the same reddish-colored squirrel. The issue has also been extensively discussed on Nextdoor.
“Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of,” said Vanessa Potter from WildCare in San Rafael.
Potter noted that squirrels do not transmit rabies. The uncharacteristically aggressive behavior might stem from being fed and nurtured by humans during its youth.
“When squirrels associate humans with food, they lose their fear. They seek out food and may become frustrated if none is forthcoming, potentially becoming territorial about their area,” explained Potter.
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.
Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
