Do squirrels attack or bite people?

One animal that practically everyone is familiar with is the squirrel. These little critters have become famous because of the way that they forage for nuts, then store them in several different places so that they have a ready supply of food all winter long. They store their food in several locations to ensure that if one of their spots is discovered then there are still alternative places to be able to find food. During the wintertime nuts are not in great availability along the ground, so not to being prepared can lead to starvation. This is why the squirrel is way ahead in being prepared.



While you may have noticed that they are quite intelligent about gathering food, it is also likely that they have done everything that they can to avoid coming in contact with you directly. Squirrels are afraid of people, and will only really warm up to them when they have been given food over an extended period of time.

You will see instances where a squirrel has been fed a lot in a park and so they are a little less timid about approaching people, but there is still that element of paranoia that makes them keep their distance. Even those who have been feeding a squirrel regularly around their home will find that the animal still wants to keep its distance when dealing with people. It’s a safety mechanism that ensures that they do not get harmed, and is why they want to stay away from people as much as possible.

So, do you have to be worried about a squirrel? Do squirrels actually attack or bite people? The answer to that in the vast majority of instances is no they will not attack or bite people. They are afraid of you and want to be as far away from you as they possibly can. However, there are two instances where they will be willing to do so.

The first of these is if you are approaching the nest where the babies are at. In this instance, the mother has a natural instinct to want to protect her young and so she may take the extraordinary measure of attacking you to keep you away from her babies. This is the instinct that virtually any mother would have in the animal kingdom and is why you should expect that she would be willing to come after you to try to scare you away.

You should also be aware that there is an instance where you should be genuinely afraid of a squirrel. Squirrels are the carriers of several diseases that can be dangerous to you. If they are sick to the point of attacking you, then it means that their natural instinct to stay away from you has been damaged, and so they are willing to come right at you. In this case, if they bite you it could be a serious risk to your health. This is why if a squirrel is coming after you it might be to your advantage to stay far away from them. Read more: Squirrel Control, How to Get Rid of Squirrels, how to get squirrels out of your attic, Squirrel Feces, How to Keep Squirrels Away from House, How to Kill Squirrels.