Anyone here that's a squirrel afficiando?

[Just_Vote_Dem]

Had a weird experience this morning. My neighborhood has a lot of squirrels and they're generally pretty peaceful and stay away from humans. This morning I thought I heard a weird growling or hissing sound, and I looked out the window of my front door, and there was a squirrel kind of pacing back and forth on my porch, making that growling/hissing sound. Had to bang the door several times to get it to leave. Any ideas-could it have been hungry, rabid, etc.?

[Bayard]

1. Squirrel aficionado?

No, but I hear they taste like chicken.

[SheltieLover]

2. I adore them, but have never seen them act this way

Perhaps check with animal control?

They can be quote expressive, though.

[hlthe2b]

3. Squirrels are susceptible to rabies though it is less common than in other wildlife

Another cause of possible neurologic disease-- which is more common-- is the raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris that can be transmitted to other species, including squirrels and even humans (blindness can occur).

I suppose a more innocent explanation could have been a territorial dispute with another male that you didn't see?

[Just_Vote_Dem]

4. That could be

I had a family of them living in my attic a few years ago, so they could be fighting over squatting rights, lol

[dewsgirl]

5. Sounds rabid. Is it possible there were two, and they were fighting and maybe one ran away?

[lastlib]

6. My cat (age 18) acted that way...

Random pacing, walking into things. Vet diagnosed her with a brain tumor. At that point I had to put her down.

Possibility with your squirrel.

[we can do it]

7. Quite the opposite - bushy tailed rats.