Squirrel Goes Postal On Postal Worker

*Raph's Girl* · 11-02-2006, 06:44 PM

A squirrel went beserk in western Pennsylvania, leaving a postal worker scratched, scraped and traumatized.

It happened Monday in Oil City, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh. Barb Dougherty, who has worked for the Postal Service for three decades, was delivering mail along her route like she always does.
She was placing some letters in a mailbox, and turned around only to notice a squirrel making a b-line for her. The animal ran up her leg, crawled up her back, and started clawing away.

Dougherty somehow got a hold of the squirrel's tail, and pulled it off. A neighbor heard her screams and arrived to help.

Doughtery was treated at the hospital for her wounds, and was given a rabies shot just in case. Meanwhile, authorities located the squirrel, and killed it with a BB gun. The animal will undergo tests to see if it is indeed affected by rabies.

We have heard of dogs pursuing the mailman, but a squirrel? Has this ever happened before?

"In about 230 years of postal history, I bet it is not the first, but I've personally never heard of another squirrel biting," said Steve Kochersperger, spokesman for the Erie postal district.

Squirrels are actually quite docile animals. They are far more interested in gathering nuts for the winter, than finding people to munch on.

Could there be more Cujo-like rodents lurking around the corner?

"We are not issuing a squirrel alert," says Steve Jolley, a Postal Service manager in Oil City, "but everyone is aware of the incident."

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=4719586

Raph's Girl note: Remind me to never go to Oil City....

11-02-2006, 06:44 PM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Squirrel Goes Postal On Postal Worker A squirrel went beserk in western Pennsylvania, leaving a postal worker scratched, scraped and traumatized. It happened Monday in Oil City, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh. Barb Dougherty, who has worked for the Postal Service for three decades, was delivering mail along her route like she always does. She was placing some letters in a mailbox, and turned around only to notice a squirrel making a b-line for her. The animal ran up her leg, crawled up her back, and started clawing away. Dougherty somehow got a hold of the squirrel's tail, and pulled it off. A neighbor heard her screams and arrived to help. Doughtery was treated at the hospital for her wounds, and was given a rabies shot just in case. Meanwhile, authorities located the squirrel, and killed it with a BB gun. The animal will undergo tests to see if it is indeed affected by rabies. We have heard of dogs pursuing the mailman, but a squirrel? Has this ever happened before? "In about 230 years of postal history, I bet it is not the first, but I've personally never heard of another squirrel biting," said Steve Kochersperger, spokesman for the Erie postal district. Squirrels are actually quite docile animals. They are far more interested in gathering nuts for the winter, than finding people to munch on. Could there be more Cujo-like rodents lurking around the corner? "We are not issuing a squirrel alert," says Steve Jolley, a Postal Service manager in Oil City, "but everyone is aware of the incident." http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=4719586 Raph's Girl note: Remind me to never go to Oil City.... __________________