#i dont know if this exact danger applies to tree squirrels

[orchidbreezefc]

rabies (which is 100% fatal if left untreated) can be transmitted through scratches as well as bites. animals that aren't known to carry rabies still carry parasites, or diseases, or parasites that carry diseases. there is significant evidence that covid 19 originated from pangolins [x]. ground squirrel fleas are the number one transmitter in the US of the fucking plague [x]. imagine if OP's mystery animal had been a chipmunk!

also if you're enough of an animal lover to want to grab wild ones indiscriminately with your bare hands, you should be enough of one to care about the massive amounts of distress being grabbed by a much larger animal causes a prey animal. wild animals Do Not Like to be grabbed. doing it is giving an animal an incredibly stressful and potentially downright traumatic experience for your own momentary amusement.

a star nosed mole though. that's wild.

OK SO I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET IN THE RAIN AT 2AM AND I SAW AN ANIMAL RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD AND SO I GRABBED IT AND

IT WAS THIS