'Wacko squirrel' frightens California schoolchildren

Katie E. Ismael - The Press-Enterprise

CRESTLINE, Calif. _ It was a vicious squirrel. A squirrel with an attitude.

And it chased a class of first-graders and their teacher out of their room at a Crestline, Calif., school this week, officials said. Then it chased them back in.

Earlier, it had jumped on the arm of a teacher. Staff at the school called authorities for help.

"Staff ... stated there was a vicious squirrel on campus," said sheriff's Detective Chuck Wyatt.

About 20 students had been in a portable classroom with the door open when "the squirrel waltzed in," said Principal Terry Stanfill.

"Everybody ran outside," Wyatt said.

Then the squirrel chased them back inside, Stanfill said. This time they closed the door, he said.

Stanfill said he went to the other classrooms to alert teachers not to let students out. "We've got a wacko squirrel," he said.

The squirrel made its first appearance on campus at lunchtime when it jumped on a teacher's arm, Stanfill said. The teacher was not hurt, he said.

After its adventures on campus, the squirrel returned to the treetops. Animal control officials will try to capture the rodent, said Stanfill. "Last I heard," said Wyatt, "the squirrel was in the tree," eyeing people.

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002

Answers

Wow! Cool story!

The squirrls around here have gotten agressive lately, too. These guys are *hungry* and spend much of their time trying to break into the bird feeders for sun flower seeds.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

I have given up trying to outfox, so to speak, the squirrels. They get their own ears of corn and unhindered access to the main bird feeder. I also have a "caged" feeder for small birds and a finches thistle-feeder (easy for YOU to say), plus blocks of suet.

I find the raccoons like grapes and a bunch of overripe grapes will be neatly picked and the empty stem left on the dish. Reminds me. I found a very nice white, egg-shaped and sized pebble on the step near the critter dishes the other morning. Sweetie said 'tweren't him. I have to wonder if it wasn't a thank-you gift from the raccoons.

Our squirrels aren't that forward, but then they're southern squirrels and so move slowly and are much more polite.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Gee Git, in the book the stones from space were that shape but black. Careful when you're handling it, it might bite you and make you an alien.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002