It’s because of that greenhouse emissions bill Ahnuld just signed. The forces of the forests know this is the time to attack!

NBC 11 - Squirrels Go On Attack At South Bay Park

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — An aggressive squirrel pounced on a 4-year-old boy in an attack last week in Cuesta Park in Mountain View.

The attack happened as the boy’s mother unwrapped a muffin during a picnic. The boy had to get rabies shot after the attack. He is still getting the shots….

The skirmish with the 4-year-old wasn’t the first time the park’s numerous tree squirrels targeted picnickers.

Mountain View Community Services Director David Muela said that as many as six people have been bitten or scratched by squirrels since May, and that the attacks have become more ferocious in the last month.

Ironically, efforts to curb the behavior may have exacerbated the squirrels’ aggressive tendencies, Muela said.

This summer, the city installed new trash receptacles featuring metal tops with a latch that makes it nearly impossible for an animal to rummage through the can in search of food. Increased park ranger patrols and flier distributions cautioning against feeding the animals might have further cut the squirrels’ food supply, prompting them to act more assertively in their quest for food.

As a last resort, the city is now looking to trap the animals for possible euthanization, Muela said.

No actually the reason I think this is so funny is because my house at home is right around the corner (loosely speaking) from that park. My high school juts up on it. Maybe the squirrels are getting into the kids’ backpacks in their quest for food, and that’s what’s makin’ them act funky?

Date: Sep 28th, 2006 · Comments RSS · Tags: Science and Nature