Published: Thursday, 5th October, 2006 10:50
Driven nuts by squirrels
By Rachel Lamb
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A YOUNG couple returning from honeymoon were forced to flee their council house with their young daughter — to escape an infestation of squirrels.
Angela McCall is fuming after having to pay for her family to stay in bed and breakfasts because, she says, Argyll and Bute Council refused to offer them alternative accommodation while their home was being cleared.
She told the Advertiser that she feared for the safety of her two-year-old daughter, Caitlin, after finding a squirrel in their bathroom and hearing others in the loft.
Council bosses have denied that Angela or her two-year old daughter were at risk from the unwanted house guests.
Angela said: “I can’t believe the council were happy to let a two-year-old child stay in her bedroom when there were wild animals just next door.
“The partition between the loft area and her bedroom is very thin and I was scared the squirrels would get through it and bite her while she was asleep.
`I was told by the SSPCA [Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] that these creatures will chew through anything and everything that gets in their path.`
Angela and her husband first discovered the furry invaders after hearing noises coming from upstairs.
She said: “We heard a thud and then the scratching of little claws. It sounded like there was a dog trapped in the bathroom.
“When my husband went up to check he found a squirrel behind the bath panel. We had to open the window, lock the door and wait for it to escape.
“I was shocked to find this creature in my house.
`We don’t know how many of them there were but there was a lot of scratching coming from the loft.
`It’s not what you want to come back from your honeymoon to find. We just had to get out.
“We went to my mother's house and slept on the sofa and the next day I went straight to the council offices in Helensburgh. At first they were really helpful but when I said I wanted to be rehoused they refused.
“There is definitely a problem with squirrels round here. One was captured in the post office across the road just the week before. I heard another one tried to run up a woman’s leg as she was walking down the street.
“I wasn’t prepared to risk my daughter’s safety so for a week and a half I had to fork out for B and Bs.
`We were just going to the house to grab food and clothes then heading out the door again.
`It’s been quite an upsetting time for us.”
Councillor George Freeman, Housing Spokesperson, and the local member for Garelochhead said: “Whilst it is most unusual for anyone to find a squirrel in their home, I can confirm that I had a similar experience a couple of years ago.
“It is a pity that Mrs McCall did not contact me at the time as I would have been happy to try and help resolve the problem.
“The advice that I have received from Pest Control Officers is that there is normally no threat to humans from squirrels unless the squirrels themselves are being threatened.”
A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said it had not been necessary to rehouse Mrs McCall and her family as they were under no threat from the squirrels.
She added: “Mrs McCall chose to vacate the property. The Council does provide emergency temporary housing for families.
`However, this situation did not qualify for such an arrangement to be made.
“The pest control service visited the property the next day but nothing was found.”
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