Squirrels Bite Visitors Near Battery Park City Playground

BATTERY PARK CITY, NY — Squirrels have bitten about half a dozen people in the past week near a Battery Park City playground, according to the state government agency that runs the park.

The Battery Park City Authority received the reports of squirrel bites near the Rockefeller Park Playground at Murray Street and River Terrace, according to a community notice posted Aug. 9.

"We are taking steps to address this situation, including coordinating with the New York City Health Department," BPC representative Nicholas Sbordone said.

The squirrels have shown no signs of carrying rabies, a potentially fatal virus transmitted through animal saliva, Sbordone said Friday.

The Health Department got a report of a scratch from a squirrel at the playground Thursday, and learned of other aggressive incidents and complaints from the Authority this week.

The city's WildlifeNYC campaign says squirrels and other small rodents rarely have rabies or transmit it to humans.

"[Squirrel bites] are usually not considered a rabies risk, unless the animal was showing signs of rabies," the city's Health Department said.

The last case of rabies in a human in New York City was in 1947. The city has never identified a squirrel with rabies since tracking began in 1992, the department said.

New Yorkers can report animal bites to the Health Department through 311 or online and should do so within 24 hours of the bite, according to the Health Department.

There are about 30 reports of squirrel bites every year, the department said — typically from people who feed them.

The Parks Department urged New Yorkers not to feed squirrels.

"They are perfectly capable of feeding themselves, and they can bite!" Director of Parks' Wildlife Unit Richard Simon said in a statement. "Feeding a squirrel can make them less fearful of humans, which can also hurt them in the long run."