Two out of three squirrels prefer Christmas lights to nuts.
I wasn’t going to post today, until an article about squirrels eating Christmas lights piqued my interest. The article aptly entitled, “Squirrels chew up Fredericton’s Christmas lights,” hooked my brain as soon as it associated the word squirrel with chew and then Christmas lights. While reading the article, I learned something new about squirrels and the fact that they like to chomp on frosty LED lights in much the same way that humans like to chomp on frozen Bon Bons.
Bruce McCormack, general manager of Downtown Fredericton, in New Brunswick, Canada, where the squirrels feast on the festival of lights, explained the problem to a CBC News correspondent.
“They seem to be very, very hungry and they like plastic and they like the LED lights and that’s all. We just can’t fight them anymore.”
As if a squirrel munching on Christmas lights isn’t enough to make you scratch your head, in Mr. McCormack’s continuing observation of the furry filament feeders, he discovered that the squirrels have an aversion to the red LED lights.
![R, G, and B LEDs [7].](http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:RBG-LED.jpg "R, G, and B LEDs [7].")
“It’s fun to watch the squirrels. They’ll come out … and they go up and they perch themselves in that tree and they gnaw away at the lights — but not the red ones.”
Apparently, the city tried to save the lights, as well as to cure the squirrels of their eating disorder, by ordering larger bulbs, assuming that the squirrels would have no interest in eating anything four-times the size of a nut. Well, they were wrong. The squirrels love them. And so now I ask. Who and/or what are the real nuts here?
In a final note, the squirrel images you see were created in Microsoft Word by using different shapes and then grouping them together. Okay. Maybe I do have too much time on my hands, but I think it looks pretty cool. What do you think — too much time or pretty cool?
Too much time on your hands? Maybe so. Cool design? Absolutely! And squirrels snackin' on LEds? Hilarious. Merry Christmas, Girl, to you and yours!
Thanks, Perry.
Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.
Nice job on the squirrels! The drawing in Word always messes me up – I guess I just don't have the patience. Perhaps the squirrels avoid the red lights for fear of red dye #2 – kind of like the old m&m candy scare.
Hi Lauren.
Just love this article and the way the squirrel pics are made!
Yes we love the squirrels also,i just love to feed them they are tam as a dog,but at my spouce her work they are breaking and entering for food.lol
Actually haven't seem them eat christmas lights here,maybe they are less hungry here in this neighbourhood?
Have a great day.
Will.
J: I think you might be right about the squirrels avoiding red dye #2. I hear they also avoid red M&Ms.
Will: Thanks!! I'm glad you feed the squirrels. I was wondering why the city doesn't leave nuts for the squirrels. I guess that's not in their budget, yet additional Christmas lights are. Go figure.
Great post. Very interesting observation. Nature can be entertaining from the proper perspective. You have the gift. Thank you for this wonderful story.
Thank you, Dr. J. We just got back from the dog park, and I think I've had enough nature and mud to last me for a while.
Hi Lauren, very interesting post. Something new for me 😉 bty, the squirrel image you created looks cool. You are a very good artist. Keep it up and Keep in touch 🙂
😀 May this New Year bring many opportunities your way, to explore every joy of life and may your resolutions for the days ahead stay firm, turning all your dreams into reality and all your efforts into great achievements. “MERRY CHRISMAST & HAPPY NEW YEAR”
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ASWANI: Thanks!! Glad you liked the post and squirrel images. I also drew a martini in Word.
Duong: Thank you for your very kind words. All the best to you in 2010.
Maybe if I chewed on lights instead of candy my butt wouldn't be so big. The squirrels are pretty cool.
I hope you have an awesome 2010! Your blog is always a great read and I appreciate all the wonderful comments you have left on mine, too.
Hi, Kys. It's great to hear from you. Thanks for all your comments. Enjoy your New Year's if we don't write-speak before then.
What do you think — too much time or pretty cool?
I say both. Bill Gates should hire you as creative software designer for Microsoft Office. If he doesn't, send some squirrels to his home so they can eat his nuts.
Happy New Year, Lauren!
Ha! Thanks, Ryhen. I need a job! Been out of work since the beginning of the year. I wonder where I can find a couple of trained squirrels. Happy New Year!