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A troop of fat, hungry squirrels has put the kibosh on a downtown St. Paul park's holiday lights display.

Friends of Mears Park had to forego the usual display this year because squirrels chewed through the lights' wires last year and the vendor refused to put up with the headache and cost again this year, the 

The wires, it turns out, were coated with polylactic acid, a derivative of corn sugar, an appealing appetizer for squirrels spoiled by park visitors who won't stop feeding them, said Ann LaBore, co-chair of the friends group.

“They try and lead them around the park,” she said. “One guy was trying to get one to jump on him. It's a little disturbing.”

Instead of the traditional display, the friends group is using a projector to create a kaleidoscope of snowflakes and base lights that bathe the trees in green and blue. LaBore said she's gotten complaints that the display is far too anemic this year.

“People look down from their condos or apartments and they want to see the twinkly lights,” she said. “Well, we can't have twinkly lights. It was probably this or nothing.”

The Associated Press

Author

Hungry squirrels are forcing a downtown St. Paul park to scale back its Christmas lights display. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the Friends of Mears Park had to reduce and reconfigure its display this year because a troop of squirrels chewed through the wires last year and the vendor refused to go through the ordeal again this year. 

Squirrels force St. Paul park to scale back holiday lights

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