Squirrel Attacks Occur Again In Mountain View Park

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

(CBS 5) MOUNTAIN VIEW “He thought I was stealing his chips when he was stealing my chips!” That’s how four-year-old Hayley Allard described what happened Thursday when a squirrel attacked her in Mountain View’s Cuesta Park.

“He was getting my Sun Chips. I reached over to get them and he jumped right in my face and started scratching it,” the girl said.

“It was frightening,” said her mother, Debbie Allard. “It was a very scary thing to have happened. It was traumatizing.”

Squirrels in Cuesta Park have attacked at least 20 people since last spring. Hayley had to get a tetanus shot. Her doctor decided she didn’t need one for rabies. There are signs in the children’s play area warning about aggressive squirrels and prohibiting food, but the Allard family doesn’t feel that’s practical.

“You can put up signs and you can tell people not to have things, but when you have more than one person, like if you have two small children, it’s really hard to do a full body search on everybody to make sure there’s no food,” said Dave Allard, Hayley’s father.

The city has placed traps throughout the park using strollers as part of the bait system, but so far has only caught one squirrel. The Allards want the children’s play area shut down and fenced off until all the aggressive squirrels are trapped. While parents at the park are surprised to hear about the latest attacks, many don’t want to see the play area closed off.

“That’s a little too drastic. Everybody’s playing here, a lot of people,” said Dennis Kanyga of Mountain View.

“I think the ultimate responsibility is up to who’s here with the children,” said Los Altos resident Kyuri Doeden, who was at the park with her son.

Mountain View’s community services director told CBS 5 by phone the park will remain open, but the Allard family doesn’t plan to come back.

“I don’t think it’s a safe place for children to be in until they solve this problem,” said Debbie Allard.

City officials said park visitors created the problem when they fed the squirrels. The animals are now so brazen, they look to humans for food and will attack to get it.

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[peejay 327]

Most people don't realize how obnoxious squirrels can be. They chewed holes in my house to get up in my attic. They got real aggressive when I went up there to chase them out.

An air operated pellet gun works wonders on the little heathens.

I have to agree with the article...don't feed them and don't make friends with them. They are unpredictable wild animals...even if they appear to be cute and cuddley.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I thought you'd be the kind that hunts squirrel, Charles.

I prefer beaver.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

I thought you'd be the kind that hunts squirrel, Charles.

I prefer beaver.

never have hunted squirrels - that's what ya get for thinking