Visitors to Cornish hotspots have long been wary of close encounters with aggressive gulls, swarms of jellyfish and even the occasional big shark. But a new threat may be on the block: sharp-toothed squirrels.
Cornwall council has issued a warning after a mother reported that her three-year-old boy was nastily nipped by a gang (or “scurry”, to use the correct collective noun) of grey squirrels and needed hospital treatment.
Sophie Renouf (22) was enjoying a walk at Tehidy country park, near Redruth with her son, Finley, when he reached out to feed one of the creatures.
According to Renouf, another six of the creatures appeared out of the undergrowth and bit him.
Ms Renouf, from Redruth, said: “There was one squirrel there and my son, as you would, fed him as usual.
“Next thing, six of them came running out of the hedge and then, all of a sudden, all I remember is him screaming. I looked and there was blood pouring out of his hand.”
She rushed to intervene - and said she had to shake off one of the creatures which was trying to scramble up her leg.
Finley was taken to a minor injuries unit but he was transferred to the Royal Cornwall hospital, where doctors spent three hours treating his puncture wounds and bandaging his fingers.
Renouf said she had fed squirrels when she was a child and believed it was perfectly safe.
She said: “I asked Finley if he had touched its tail and he said no. I didn’t see him do anything like that, so I assume they’ve just had babies - or they’re about to.”
Finley had only just plucked up the courage to feed the creatures after being convinced it was safe.
His mum said: “I just want to let other people know. I don’t want other children to go down there and get bitten.
“A girl I used to go to school with messaged me and said they’d tried to bite her little girl as well.”
Recovery
Finley is recovering, Ms Renouf said.
“He’s OK,” she said. “We just have to keep [his injuries] covered up with plasters and bandages so he won’t get an infection from any dirt.”
A spokeswoman for Cornwall council said: “We are sorry to hear about the incident at Tehidy country park.
“Many people visit Tehidy to see the squirrels so they are quite used to people being around and unafraid to approach if they think food might be available.
“However, they are wild animals which are naturally capable of finding their own food and we do not encourage or advise people to feed them or any of the wild birds at Tehidy.
“There are currently no specific signs advising against feeding the squirrels but we have displayed notices to this effect in the past and may do again if this becomes a regular problem.”
Guardian service