Flesh-eating squirrel stalks streets of Knutsford (UK)

Guardian ^ | November 7, 2002 | Rebecca Allison

[Damocles]

Flesh-eating squirrel stalks streets of Knutsford

Rebecca Allison
Thursday November 7, 2002
The Guardian

Householders in Knutsford, Cheshire, are being plagued by the unlikeliest of foes - a vicious grey squirrel with a penchant for human flesh.

The rogue animal is believed to have attacked at least six residents in the past week, and his antics are now being described by residents as "well beyond a joke".

One woman suffered a nasty bite on the ankle before she could shake the tiny creature off her leg. And a two-year-old girl was taken by surprise when the squirrel jumped at her, clung on to her head and bit her on the eyebrow.

One resident, Blanche Kelly, told the Times that the squirrel chased her round the garden. She admitted she would stay indoors if she spotted the squirrel near the house. "Everyone round here is living in fear and they will not let their children out any more because of this violent squirrel.

"I cannot even put my washing out. I'll never trust squirrels again."

It is thought the squirrel may have been kept as a pet, then abandoned. If squirrels are tamed when young but then let go they can end up being rather bold with humans.

The RSPCA was yesterday called in to deal with the animal before it decided to savage anyone else. Colin Booty, a senior scientific officer in the RSPCA's wildlife department, said it was unusual for an urban squirrel to act so aggressively towards humans. Although these rodents can become accustomed to human contact they usually remain fairly wary, he said.

[Damocles]

AAHHHHHHH, my God!!

[Constitution Day]

This one's just for you!

[101st-Eagle]

Where the hell is the Holy Handgrenade when you need it!

[stanz]

I would be more afraid of rabies than of being a squirrel's meal. We have tame squirrels which we feed, but they never approach us.

[camle]

hokey smokes, Bullwinkle!

(you knew there HAD to be a moose in there somewhere)

[New Horizon]

"Colin Booty"

Huh?

[Slyfox]

I'm a bad dude.

[lsee]

No concern about rabies?

[Damocles]

Why here it is!

[Damocles]

Holy crap!! LOL...

[Cincinatus]

Sure this isn't the dreaded Chuppacabra??

On an unrelated note, Knutsford is where Gen. George S. Patton gave his famous "Britain and America will rule the world"-speech, which got him in trouble with Ike (yet again).

[scouse]

"Good heavens Holmes! He's going for your nuts"

[hispanarepublicana]

They should call in the experts:

[Thinkin' Gal]

SQUIRREL!!!!!!!!!!!

[Snuffington]

... Three shall be the number of the counting. And the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count. Nor count thou two, except thereafter proceeding to three. Five is right out...

[Michael Barnes]

re #7

That squirrel is without doubt from Knutsford...

[101st-Eagle]

LOL!

[twigs]

I agree. Rabies can turn a placid animal into an aggressive one. Several years ago, a "friendly" mouse used to visit my husband at night and lick his ears. The rest of the family thought he was crazy (his wife was dying and they thought the grief had just overcome him) until it also licked my stepson's ears. Then it met the clutches of my mother-in-law and the ear licker was no more.

[AnAmericanMother]

" . . . . and the Lord did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals and fruit bats and large chu . . . "

"Skip a bit, Brother Ambrose . . . ."

heh heh.

[Russ]

Anyone over there ever heard of a shotgun? Or have they
banned those too?