Squirrels go nuts on crack (addicts hide drugs in gardens; our furry friends dig it up)

The Sun (U.K.); ^ | October 7, 2005 | VIRGINIA WHEELER

[Stoat]

Squirrels go nuts on crack

Squirrels ... digging up stashes
 

By VIRGINIA WHEELER

 SQUIRRELS are getting hooked on crack cocaine — hidden by addicts in gardens.

They are digging up the stashes and eating the mega-addictive drug, which comes in small chunks.

Several have been spotted behaving bizarrely in Brixton, South London, since a police blitz against pushers and users.

One resident said: “My neighbour said dealers had used my garden to hide crack.

“Just an hour earlier I’d seen a squirrel digging in the flower-beds.

“It was ill-looking and its eyes looked bloodshot, but it kept on desperately digging. It seems a strange thing to say, but it seemed to know what it was looking for.”

Other residents have seen squirrels become unusually aggressive.

The RSPCA said: “These animals are big foragers. They are attracted by smell and will dig up what they fancy.

“If a squirrel did open a bag of crack and start consuming it there is no doubt it would die pretty quickly.”

Crack squirrels are a recognised problem in America. They are common in parks used by addicts in New York and Washington DC.

They have been known to attack park visitors in their search for a fix.

[Stoat]

See also:

 

icSouthlondon - Squirrels on crack

Squirrels on crack

Oct 7 2005
 

 

South London Press

NATURE lovers fear that squirrels could become hooked on crack cocaine plundered from addicts' hidden stashes.

The furry animals are thought to be behind a new drugs turf war in Brixton - stealing rocks of crack hidden in front gardens.

Tough police action to rid the town centre of dealers and addicts has seen crackheads abandon their usual drug stash hideouts.

But the blitz has displaced some dealing into nearby residential streets.

Drug addicts are known to be hiding small stashes of crack rocks in people's front lawns late at night.

Squirrels have been spotted in the same front gardens, seemingly hunting out the buried narcotics.

The discovery has led some residents to speculate that the squirrels are already in the grips of addiction. One resident, who asked for his name to be withheld, told the South London Press.

"I was chatting with my neighbour who told me that crack users and dealers sometimes use my front garden to hide bits of their stash.

"An hour earlier I'd seen a squirrel wandering round the garden, digging in the flowerbeds.

"It looked like it knew what it was looking for.

"It was ill-looking and its eyes looked bloodshot but it kept on desperately digging.

"It was almost as if it was trying to find hidden crack rocks."

Crack squirrels are a recognised phenomena in the US.

They are known to live in parks frequented by addicts in New York and Washington DC.

The squirrels have attacked park visitors in their frenzied search for their next fix.

An RSPCA spokesman said he was unaware of the squirrels taking crack in Brixton.

[Shqipo]

They also go coo coo for cocoa puffs.

[scott7278]

I guess they moved past Clusters.

[Grizzled Bear]

Crack squirrels are a recognised phenomena in the US.
_________________________________________________________
That has to be the funniest sentence I have ever read!

I've lived outside the U.S. but I am still surprised by some of the things people in other countries believe about us!

[Lil'freeper]

heh. Ping.

[Crazieman]

'recognized us phenomena'

But when you run google searches, they're all UK links

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

How does a squirrels eyes look bloodshot?

[nmh]

Did they test the squirrels to see if they were on this stuff?

[adorno]

“It was ill-looking and its eyes looked bloodshot, but it kept on desperately digging. It seems a strange thing to say, but it seemed to know what it was looking for.”

I'll start worrying about addicted squirrels when they approach me with a weapon and ask me for money to support their habit.

I'll worry even more when some liberal animal lovers want to start some government programs to help the squirrels break their habits.

[counterpunch]

[Stoat]

Did they test the squirrels to see if they were on this stuff?

It appears that squirrels have been observed digging up and eating the crack, and then acting strangely and aggressively.  From this an inference has been made. 

I'm not aware of any Government testing programs or treatment programs, no Betty Ford Clinics for squirrels, but just wait, it will all come in time.

 

[Grizzled Bear]

"all UK links"
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Alright; THAT part shouldn't surprise me. I lived in the UK. The funny thing was hearing some of the British civil servants on the U.S. Air Force base (RAF Lakenheath) criticizing the U.S. and it's policies.

I strongly believe in freedom of speech but these folks were extremely anti-American. They were hired by the British Ministry of Defense.

Can you imagine the looks I got when I suggested they protest by refusing their pay check?

Then I suggested they ask to be transfered to a British base. They told me to mind my own @#$% business. Due to their access they were allowed to use many of the base facilities. They really liked our "Perks" (when you bring a lot of young adults to another country the quality of life is important. You have to give them some familiar things).

Fortunately they were in the minority. Most of the MOD folks were cool! Sorry for going so far off topic...

[Racer1]

Yes and as Chevy Chase once said they tend to play with there nuts instead of eating them. :)

[Grizzled Bear]

Did they test the squirrels to see if they were on this stuff?
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Yes. It ain't easy to get a squirrel to pee in a cup.

[Grizzled Bear]

Did they test the squirrels to see if they were on this stuff?
_______________________________________________________
Yes. It ain't easy to get a squirrel to pee in a cup.

[Redcloak]

How would one differentiate between a squirrel on crack versus one that is not on crack?

[counterpunch]

[Racer1]

The one on crack will be carrying a dollar and a razor blade.

[Stoat]

I'll start worrying about addicted squirrels when they approach me with a weapon and ask me for money to support their habit.

That's essentially what's already happening.  When they eat it and then become aggressive. it sounds similar to an addict attacking you or holding you up with a gun.  Any rodent bite can be very serious and even life-threatening, particularly for older folks who might be relaxing on a public park bench or working in their gardens.

I'll worry even more when some liberal animal lovers want to start some government programs to help the squirrels break their habits.

It's only a matter of time before this happens.
 

[Stoat]

Sorry for going so far off topic...

I'm not a 'stay on topic' Fascist.  Your posts are interesting and appreciated.