The Cellar - 11/8/2002: Albino squirrel

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11/8/2002: Albino squirrel

http://cellar.org/2002/albinosquirrel.jpg

A white squirrel munches on some nuts in Olney, Ill., Saturday Oct. 12, 2002. A rare colony of albino squirrels lives in Olney and the town attracted squirrel nuts from across the country to mark 100 years since the squirrels were first spotted. Retired zoology professor John Stencel says the colony of about 200 albino squirrels is one of three known in North America. They are all white, with pink eyes.

Mrs. UT says they had an albino squirrel on the Penn State campus in the mid 80s.

(ref. The Simpsons)
Principal Skinner: "You'll be getting an Albanian [exchange student]." Homer: "You mean all white with pink eyes?"

http://cellar.org/2002/albinosquirrel2.jpg

I hate being late to post Friday images. Sorry folks.

These guys are quite rare and are found Olney in Illinois. ;)

Gun-Totting Grandad Gets His Terrorist Squirrel

Quote:

LONDON (Reuters) - Today - A squirrel which terrorized a British town by attacking people has been shot and killed by the grandfather of its latest victim.

Geoff Horth, enraged by the squirrel biting his two-year-old grand-daughter Kelsi Morley on the face, took up his airgun and hunted down the rogue rodent, the Sun newspaper said on Friday.

"When I tracked him down I was surprised how big he was. He came down a tree and headed for me, but I shot him before he jumped," the 61-year-old school caretaker told the newspaper.

The bad-tempered squirrel's reign of terror in the town of Knutsford in central England had made parents frightened to let their children out to play.

Animal experts say it is very unusual for squirrels to behave in such an aggressive way toward humans.

Horth was philosophical about his role as gun-totting local hero. "Its a shame he went nuts, but I couldn't let this little beggar hold the town to ransom," he told the newspaper.

This story has all the necessary elements of a hot thread in the Cellar ... gun slingin' .... terrorist huntin' ... brit humour ... gory violence ... and squirrels!

I drove through Olney once. Quiet place...didn't see these squirrels. Given Olney's location (southeastern Illinois, near the Indiana border), they could use all the excitement they can get. :)

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore
I drove through Olney once. Quiet place...didn't see these squirrels. Given Olney's location (southeastern Illinois, near the Indiana border), they could use all the excitement they can get. :)

C'mon...Olney is a neighborhood in Philly. Can't fool me.

ObTopic: http://www.scarysquirrel.org

<i>Edit: to fix URL: Thanx Nic. Tttttttooo muchh ccccccooffffeee.....</i>

Quote:

Originally posted by MaggieL
C'mon...Olney is a neighborhood in Philly. Can't fool me.

Now THAT Olney may have more excitement than it really needs. :)

Oh shit Mags...that site is too funny!

Personally, I think the BBC article is much better written.

Then there's this from Ananova.

This town is nuts furred.

Quote:

L O N D O N, Nov. 8 — The small town of Knutsford in Cheshire, England, is resting easier after a menacing, bloodthirsty, though somewhat furry, terrorist was shot and killed by a vengeful grandfather.

I was attacked by a squirrel once. :) actually I was taking senior pictures and was standing next to a tree with Kakies on. This squirrel ran up to me and climbed halfway up my leg before he realized what was going on. Was quite a surprise at the time.

Did he get your nuts?

Re: 11/8/2002: Albino squirrel

Quote:

Originally posted by Undertoad
Mrs. UT says they had an albino squirrel on the Penn State campus in the mid 80s.

There was one who hung out in our back yard at one point when I was growing up. (I believe my brother still has it--stuffed and mounted.)

Squirrel Fishing!

Squirrel Fishing!

Quote:

Originally posted by Nic Name
Did he get your nuts?

Nope he was a couple inches away :)
Truely the little guy just looked shocked when he realized what he'd done.

There is a large maple tree outside my apartment that almost touches my balcony. The squirrels that hang out there are incredibly docile...they come up to my balcony door all the time.