Grey squirrel fed by nice “bird lady” goes on attack, injuring 18 over two days

A Welsh town held in the grip of fear by a grey squirrel that began indiscriminately attacking seniors, pets and children was terrorized for two days before being captured.

The squirrel was spotted jumping at people taking out the garbage, and chasing after people down streets as they flee.

The grey squirrel has been called a “psycho” and named “Stripe” for the horrible character in the movie Gremlins.

Some of Stripe’s victims were left bitten, bruised and bleeding. A few even needed tetanus jabs. Writing on Facebook, one resident said:

“Warning, vicious squirrel that attacks. Has bitten me, attacked my friend…. and multiple other people. It’s also attacked my two Bengals, who fear nothing, and my neighbours’ Bengal cats. Dare not go out of my house, as it’s lurking.”

Another woman posted a picture of her bloodied hand, saying,

“This squirrel is not very nice at all, just had me when collecting my recycling bags. Let’s just say it had me good and proper, little s***.”

Forty eight hours of tyranny was finally brought to an end on Monday when it was caught in a humane trap by 65-year-old Corrine Reynolds.

Known locally as the “bird lady”, she had been feeding the animal since the summer. Despite befriending the creature, Reynolds decided to act after being bitten on the hand herself.

“I only got bit once but he had suddenly taken to seeing me and literally legging it down the garden up my leg and on my shoulder. To be honest, he was giving me cause for concern with his unusual behaviour.

“Then I saw all the Facebook posts and realised it was actually dangerous. I know there are differing views on me capturing it but when you can’t go out in your back garden for fear of being attacked, it’s not good.

“I have an elderly lodger on blood-thinning drugs and a two-year-old grandson playing in the garden too, so I couldn’t risk injuries to either of them.”

Stripe was put on death row. Reynolds are hoping to get a vet to put Stripe to sleep as it’s illegal to release grey squirrels back into the wild.

She then launched a fundraising appeal to pay for the $200 Canadian fee.

“For me to want to put to sleep an animal was a step not taken lightly,” she said.

“But I’m not putting my grandson at risk of getting bitten by a squirrel who just lunges for an attack.”

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Peg Fong is also in recovery from newspapers

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