Squirrels can bite or scratch a person, and this will entail a long and specific treatment, as they are carriers of dangerous diseases such as leptospirosis and rabies. That is why it is best to keep your distance and keep food at a distance.
“In the summer, Lviv residents like to feed squirrels in parks, but you can’t do it directly from your hands,” emphasizes Ihor Antakhovych, director of the Lviv City Children’s Ecology and Natural History Center. – “I remember a case when a pregnant woman was hand-feeding a squirrel and it jumped on her chest and scratched her. As a result, in addition to being frightened, the woman suffered swollen lymph nodes. Fortunately, everything ended well, but there was such an unpleasant story. So be careful.”
Also, you can’t feed squirrels bread or cookies – it’s bad for their health. The best treats for them are dried fruits and nuts.
“There are cases when Lviv residents leave leftover chips and crackers in parks, particularly in trash bins, and squirrels can eat them too. And this harms them,” says Ihor Antakhovych.
Most squirrels live in parks with old trees, such as Stryiskyi Park and Zalizni Vody Park.
It should be added that there is currently a sufficient supply of rabies vaccine in Lviv. The vaccine is available at the First Medical Association at three addresses: 9 Mykolaychuk St., 23 Navrotskoho St., and 4 Orlyka St.