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'Berserk' trapped squirrel trashes family home(UK)
Daily Mail ^ | 16 Aug 2006 | Staff

Posted on 08/17/2006 7:44:39 PM PDT by Marius3188

A family today told how they returned from a weekend away to find their house had been trashed by a berserk squirrel.

Retired engineer Alan White, 67, and his wife Janice, 65, came home to find their lounge had been ransacked, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

The couple initially feared burglars had broken into their home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, but the culprit was found to be a squirrel which had left sooty paw prints all over the room.

Desperate to escape

The trapped rodent had tried chewing through the window frames and tore the curtain and settee to shreds in a desperate bid to escape.

Mr White said he and his wife had been away with grandson Shaun, 13, to the International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol and were greeted by the scene of carnage when they arrived back.

He said: "We came home to the house and entered our lounge. We noticed that the fireguard had been knocked on to the carpet and there were coals on the floor.

"Then we noticed that the wooden window frame had been gnawed extensively - most of it was gone.

"There were pot plants and ornaments strewn across the room and we immediately thought someone had broken in. But my wife pointed out that the doors were still locked."

The couple's son, Shaun, 38, found the lifeless body of the squirrel behind the settee.

Damage

Mr White said: "Once we realised that we looked more carefully for damage and saw the settee, which was quite a nice one, had been ripped and gnawed.

"Of course, the squirrel had been covered in soot falling down the chimney and everything, even the light on the ceiling, had been covered with soot by him.

"The curtains on both sides of the window had been torn to shreds and he had torn a big hole in the carpet."

Mr White said the squirrel had even tried to chew its way through the aluminum frame of the patio doors.

The family are counting their blessings that the lounge doors were closed, preventing the trapped creature from running amok around their entire house.

The couple have been in contact with their insurance firm about the damage, and the lounge will have to be completely redecorated after the squirrel's rampage.

Mr White said he was now thinking about getting a chimney cowl fitted.

Unusual

An RSPCA spokesman said the incident was very unusual.

He said: "We've heard of birds getting into houses but never a squirrel getting down a chimney.

"It's unfortunate for the family - and the squirrel."


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Unclassified; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: animals; home; pets; ratwithbushytail; squirrel; uk
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To: aviator

I knew someone would post the squirrel and motorcyclist story. That one kills me every time I read it.


41 posted on 08/17/2006 8:37:34 PM PDT by zeugma (I reject your reality and substitute my own in its place. (http://www.zprc.org/))
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To: Salamander

LMAO!

For some reason that scene has always stuck in my mind.

Funny stuff!


42 posted on 08/17/2006 8:38:45 PM PDT by 2111USMC
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To: Marius3188
...were greeted by the scene of carnage when they arrived back.

OH THE HUMANITY!!!






(of these fluff stories)
43 posted on 08/17/2006 8:42:41 PM PDT by lmr (You can have my Tactical Nuclear Weapons when you pry them from my cold dead fingers.)
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To: 2111USMC

One of John Cleese's greatest, raving-spit-and-froth performances.....;D


44 posted on 08/17/2006 8:45:36 PM PDT by Salamander (And don't forget my Dog; fixed and consequent.........)
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To: kimmie7

you beat me to it, how did that squirrel get all the way to the UK from Mississippi? lmao


45 posted on 08/17/2006 8:54:49 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: Marius3188

"berserk squirrel" sounds like the name of an especially irritating yet otherwise unnotable punk rock group.


46 posted on 08/17/2006 8:57:00 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (You're never more than a half-step away from a good note.)
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To: Marius3188; SquirrelKing; Experiment 6-2-6
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
47 posted on 08/17/2006 8:57:03 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Slump Tester
I'm sure the busted pot plants were nothing compared to these Pot Bust Nets 5,000 Plants
48 posted on 08/17/2006 9:01:07 PM PDT by DuxFan4ever (The next rational liberal I meet will be the first.)
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To: L98Fiero

LOL. That is hilarious.


49 posted on 08/17/2006 9:01:45 PM PDT by Flora McDonald (got teufelhunden?)
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To: aviator

Great story! This is the funniest thread in a long time.


50 posted on 08/17/2006 9:09:28 PM PDT by Flora McDonald (got teufelhunden?)
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To: All
Squirrel aficionados, keepers of squirrel-related lore as well as squirrel FReepers may be interested in this item:

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

 

 

51 posted on 08/17/2006 9:52:05 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: aviator

"The Squirrel Grenade"

I don't care how many times I've read this, I laugh unti I cry!

We don't have squirrels in our yard. The cats keep them out. Somewhere this very minute there at least 8 tailess squirrels counting their blessing that they got away. We have the tails.


52 posted on 08/17/2006 9:58:23 PM PDT by swmobuffalo (The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.)
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To: teenyelliott
Wonder why the squirrel was dead.

Probably couldn't get to water to get a drink.

53 posted on 08/17/2006 10:07:25 PM PDT by Wycowboy
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To: swmobuffalo

maybe that is all that is left of the squirrels' that have been et by the cat. (thats all we found after our cat ate them)


54 posted on 08/17/2006 10:29:50 PM PDT by coincheck (support our troops, they are the best bar none (sua sponte))
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To: Marius3188
Good it wasn't one of these:

Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura, habitat: India)

They are as big as an average cat.

55 posted on 08/17/2006 10:37:59 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: aviator
DING DING DING DING DING!

Bump to the top...

...and a nomination for Best Post of the Day!

Cheers!

56 posted on 08/17/2006 11:06:40 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
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To: Marius3188

'They tend to more aggressive than the British squirrel(red). However, I understand that the Brit squirrel can drink more and is alot better in soccer(football).'

And the British native red squirrel would be too polite to mess up someones house!


57 posted on 08/18/2006 4:11:12 AM PDT by AdAstraPerArdua
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To: Graybeard58
I've turned him into a damn'd democrat.

Welfare squirrel.

58 posted on 08/18/2006 6:02:13 AM PDT by Overtaxed
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To: coincheck

"all that is left of the squirrels"

Nope they didn't eat them, there were no hairballs! They always have hairballs after they eat mice. And we've watched them give chase and the tail is all they can get ahold of!


59 posted on 08/18/2006 10:32:57 AM PDT by swmobuffalo (The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.)
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To: Marius3188
A friend of mine and his *temporary* sissy roommate with 2 cats had just moved into a new trailer off campus when the prior occupant's tamed squirrel snuck in the back door when it was left open for a few minutes one morning.

Once the cats saw the squirrel the chase was on that lasted for 10 minutes or so. Anything that was on a table, desk, counter-top was knocked to the floor; Several frames were knocked off the wall with all of the others left hanging cockeyed and the curtains were shredded by the cats trying to get the to the squirrel on top of the valence.

The sissy roomie was asleep, heard the commotion and was too scared to open his door. When it quieted down he opened the door which the squirrel took as being a way out and proceeded to lunge towards the sissy roommate. The sissy screamed and jumped under his covers a second before the squirrel with the cats in hot pursuit landed on top of him and commenced to fighting and scrambling the bed covers with him underneath.

Once it quieted again the sissy went looking in his room for the squirrel holding his bed-cover against him for protection. He pulled back a stereo speaker, the squirrel was there and it leaped up onto his bed-cover which the sissy thew down and fled the trailer screaming in his underwear.

Now, if you haven't figured it out yet the sissy guy was a flamer and when he told the story with his lisp and gay mannerisms I was laughing so hard I was crying, gasping for air and felt I had broke a rib.
60 posted on 08/18/2006 11:03:10 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
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