Hongerige eekhoorns blijken zich te goed te doen aan beeld in tuinen landgoed te Totnes, Devon (Engeland) - Beestjes knagen aan lood en worden ziek

Squirrels blamed for attack on statue

Police investigating suspected vandalism on a 200-year-old lead statue were shocked to discovered the 'culprits' were squirrels.

26-02-2010 The Daily Telegraph, UK


Staff at a country estate noticed the artwork was covered in serrated marks and thought someone had tried to hack of its arms with a saw. But wildlife experts who examined the statue revealed the marks were left by a group of hungry squirrels.

There are various theories as to why squirrels nibble at lead with some experts believing they do it to correct a mineral imbalance in their system. Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Shortly afterwards one completely bald squirrel was found and had to be put down by vets who said it had suffered lead poisoning.

There are various theories as to why squirrels nibble at lead with some experts believing they do it to correct a mineral imbalance in their system.
Others say they may be consuming the lead as they eat insects on the statue's surface or the hungry squirrels could think the statue is a tree and mistake the lead for bark.

The statue, called Flora, is located in the historic gardens of Dartington Hall in Totnes, Devon.
Head gardener Neil Dyer said a member of staff noticed the damage to the statue last weekend and feared it had been struck by yobs.

He said: ''One member of staff saw the bite marks and thought it looked like a knife or saw had been taken to it so they assumed it had been vandalised.
''It seems some of the squirrels have taken a liking to to the statue and have been eating away at it. It's very strange.
''The police were called but we eventually realised what had been going on. It's not a massive amount of damage but it will be very expensive to repair.''

Steve Hussey, from the Wildlife Trust, said the animals may be starved of nuts and are gnawing at the statue in an attempt to find food.

He said: ''Squirrels will gnaw at anything and one thing that often happens is that they gnaw through people's electrics.

A police spokesman said: ''We were called to investigate a possible incident of vandalism but it was found to be non-suspicious and enquiries are no longer continuing.''

The statue was made in the 18th century by an unknown sculptor and was presented to the estate in 1967.
Dartington Hall is a Grade I listed medieval property which is now a privately owned hotel and conference centre.

(Bron: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Daily Telegraph / Bron foto's Flora: http://www.dartingtonhall.com/)