There have been a lot of odd squirrel-related stories in the past week, including the case of an airline passenger receiving emotional support from a squirrel, and another squirrel receiving successful CPR from a motorist whose car had just struck the animal.

But a case out of Rochester may be the most bizarre squirrel story of the month. A man has died, possibly from eating squirrel brains. The 61-year-old hunter perished in 2015, but the case recently came to light after being presented at a medical conference. The affliction he contracted is known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which is similar to the infamous Mad Cow Disease.

The National Institute of Health says the disease causes rapid memory loss, and impaired thinking, vision and coordination, then dementia and death.

It's always fatal and is linked to ingesting squirrel brains. In 1997, the state of Kentucky issued a health warning after 11 people who ate squirrel brains were diagnosed with the non-variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which is not usually fatal.

Do you know of anyone in Central New York who engages in this practice?

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