From the EVG inbox this morning...
Saw a black squirrel in Tompkins Square Park playground acting very aggressively and making a horrible growling sound. Never heard a squirrel making any noise before.
It was perched on a branch of a tree in the playground by Avenue A and 9th Street. It would sit perched on a branch wheezing/growling and breathing rapidly, then run off rapidly and return to same branch and repeat same growl.
This tree is on the inside-the-park side fence in middle of playground near the revolving pole with a triangular base.
Tried to report this to Parks Department and to 311 but just got the runaround.
I don't want any kids to be bitten by a rabid squirrel — especially my kid.
According to the Center for Disease Control, rabid squirrels are extremely rare. Per eHow: "Healthy squirrels can be noisy, bold and curious. They often chatter and make scolding sounds at humans and dogs. Rambunctious behavior in squirrels does not denote rabies."