I guess they aren't vegetarians anymore.
Posted on 12/01/2005 11:50:10 AM PST by BJClinton
Squirrels have bitten to death a stray dog which was barking at them in a Russian park, local media report.
Passers-by were reportedly too late to stop the attack by the black squirrels in a village in the far east, which reportedly lasted about a minute.
They are said to have scampered off at the sight of humans, some carrying pieces of flesh.
A pine cone shortage may have led the squirrels to seek other food sources, although scientists are sceptical.
The attack was reported in parkland in the centre of Lazo, a village in the Maritime Territory, and was witnessed by three local people.
A "big" stray dog was nosing about the trees and barking at squirrels hiding in branches overhead when a number of them suddenly descended and attacked, reports say.
"They literally gutted the dog," local journalist Anastasia Trubitsina told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.
"When they saw the men, they scattered in different directions, taking pieces of their kill away with them."
Mikhail Tiyunov, a scientist in the region, said it was the first he had ever heard of such an attack.
While squirrels without sources of protein might attack birds' nests, he said, the idea of them chewing at a dog to death was "absurd".
"If it really happened, things must be pretty bad in our forests," he added.
Komosmolskaya Pravda notes that in a previous incident this autumn chipmunks terrorised cats in a part of the territory.
A Lazo man who called himself only Mikhalich said there had been "no pine cones at all" in the local forests this year.
"The little beasts are agitated because they have nothing to eat," he said.
That would make me scamper off as well.
Squirrels are just rats with furry tails.
That said, they can be entertaining to watch. But there's always a rodent lurking behind that cute little furry thing out there hanging over your birdfeeder...
I hve to go get my tinfoil helmet. I'll be back in a minute.
Ha! In Soviet Russia, squirrels killed not one dog, but conducted pogrom!
I guess they aren't vegetarians anymore.
My dad always called them tree rats. Sounds like Russia could use some cats. My friends cat LOVES to squirrel hunt.
I always said that squirrels were EVIL!
And that they're trying to take over the world.
Death to the squirrels!
:-)
On a lighter note, do a Google search on: "Evil Squirrels"
ping
Sounds like they need a Cooper's hawk.
We squirrels are not all "smiles and sunshine..."
ping!
If I don't have any luck with the deer this weekend I'll take down a few squirrels and make some stew, just for you!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.