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Thirsty Squirrel Begs For Water Then Downs A Bottle

Thirsty Squirrel Begs For Water Then Downs A Bottle

The little guy was clearly very parched...

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

A video of a thirsty squirrel begging for water before downing a bottle has gone viral. You can watch it below:

In the clip, the grey squirrel can be seen following a group of people around and intermittently standing on its two back legs, seemingly gesturing towards their bottle of water.

The bottle is then held out for the squirrel who guzzles from it frantically, soaking itself in the process. Within 30 seconds, the rodent manages to see off the whole bottle before scampering away, its thirst presumably quenched.

The video of the bizarre interaction has gone viral and has been viewed more than 687,000 times on Twitter, with many people surprised the creature had the knowledge and the audacity to beg for and drink water in this way.

But while most seemed to find the whole thing quite sweet, there were some who ruined the mood somewhat by pointing out that it's probably not a positive sign if a squirrel is relying on bottles of water to keep hydrated.

It's also not really the best time to be getting hands on with squirrels either, given that one tested positive for the bubonic plague in the US last Saturday.

Health officials in Colorado issued an alert after the animal's test results came back, with specialists saying there has been 'an increase of reported plague activity'.

The squirrel was found in Morrison, close to Denver, and is understood to be the first case of the plague recorded in the county.

A squirrel in the US tested positive for the bubonic plague.
PA

In a statement, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) said it was vital that people took no risks when around animals.

It said: "Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and can be contracted by humans and household animals if proper precautions are not taken."

The statement went on to warn that humans could contract the disease when bitten by an infected flea, through the cough of an infected animal, or through direct contact with 'blood or tissues of infected animals'.

It said cats are particularly susceptible to the disease and could die if not treated promptly, adding that pet owners who live near wild animal populations 'should consult their veterinarian about flea control for their pets to help prevent the transfer of fleas to humans'.

The JCPH recommended the following precautions:

  • Eliminate all sources of food, shelter and access for wild animals around the home.
  • Do not feed wild animals.
  • Maintain a litter and trash-free yard to reduce wild animal habitats.
  • People and pets should avoid contact with sick or dead wild animals and rodents.
  • Use precaution when handling sick pets. Have sick pets examined by a veterinarian.
  • Consult with your veterinarian about flea and tick control for your pets.
  • Keep pets from roaming freely outside the home where they may prey on wild animals and bring the disease home with them.

Symptoms of bubonic plague include fever, chills, headaches, nausea, and pain and swelling of the lymph nodes within two to seven days of exposure. It can be fatal if not treated.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@HldMyWhiteClaw

Topics: Viral, Animals