Bibberle unplugged

Parents at Cuesta Park in Mountain View keep an eye not only on their kids, but on the squirrels. "There was a squirrel, I guess it smelled food somewhere on the playground, so it was ransacking the strollers," says Susan Moriarity, who comes to the park everyday with her 21-month-old son Jack. "I didn't realize until we got back to the car that he had chewed a hold through my stroller." They've even attacked humans. Since May of last year, squirrels have bitten or scratched 18 people, including two attacks in the past month. City officials are still planning to trap and kill the aggressive squirrels. They initially planned to use tube traps that would squish the squirrels to death, but the plan itself was squashed after hundreds of people expressed outrage. City workers are now switching tactics. "The animal is captured alive and then is humanely euthanized," says David Muela, the city's community services director. It's not enough to satisfy critics-- 730 people have signed an online petition asking the city of Mountain View to not kill the squirrels. Animal lovers from around the world have signed on with messages like "Why are they aggressive? Maybe they are tired of us. Can you blame them?" "I don't like the idea of killing them. They're just going after food," Moriarity said. City officials have put up signs warning about aggressive squirrels. Rangers now patrol the children's play area, where food is no longer allowed. When a ranger saw a four-year-old boy holding a cookie near the slide, she told his father to "dispose of it, please, the squirrels can smell it." Some parents say if the attacks continue, the squirrels need to go. "If the problem gets worse, and it's between killing some squirrels or our sons and daughters out here getting hurt, they might not have a choice," said Charlie McKellai, who was sitting on a swing while holding his four-month-old daughter Kristen. The squirrels are not only hungry, however, they're smart. How many have been trapped so far?