And They Waterski too ...

Alcatraz had The Birdman. This facility will probably not have the Squirrel Man, if things keep going the way they did this week.

Prison isn't the most likely place to get bit by a squirrel, but it happened Sunday to one of the inmates. He showed up today sporting tooth marks from a set of squirrel incisors on his left middle finger.

"Me mordió una ardilla," he said.

Like many inmates, he is Hispanic and doesn't speak much English. He went on to say that he was minding his own business in his bunk with headphones on, listening to music (Squirrel Nut Zippers, maybe?), and eating a cracker. He had his hand up near his head when he felt something on him, and flinched. Bam! Bit by a squirrel, just like that.

The squirrel got away, and how it broke INTO prison I still don't understand, but the patient was left with the bite marks to prove the improbable.

Since squirrels are not a common source of rabies, and three days had passed without signs of any infection, I opted to send the patient away without any special treatment.

But the squirrel is still out there. And if he's crafty enough to sneak into and out of a locked-down prison compound, are any of us safe?