the Definitive Page On Squirrels

January 14, 1999
UK Insurance Covers Squirrel Attack

By The Associated Press

SHREWSBURY, England (AP) -- A vacationing couple whose house was trashed by a rampaging squirrel have won their battle to have their insurance company cover the more than $8,250 in damages.

Saga Insurance originally told Desmond and Veronica Green that the squirrel, which was thought to have entered the house via the
chimney, was classified as ``vermin'' and thus not covered under their policy.

But the company reconsidered after newspaper stories about the case, issuing a statement Thursday explaining that ``Saga has never before encountered a claim involving a rogue squirrel.''

While the Greens were away from their home in Shropshire, west central England, in September, the squirrel broke a number of objects, damaged their carpets and gnawed at five window frames that now must be replaced.

It eventually was chased out of the house by a neighbor after it set off a burglar alarm.

After builders complete the repairs to the house, Desmond Green, 71, said he would assign them one last task -- squirrel-proofing. ``I will get something put across the chimney to block it off,'' he said. ``I would do it myself tomorrow, but I'm too old.''

Wanted Dead or Alive!

The only known picture of Carlos "Bushytail" Guerro. This picture was taken by a security camera during the great broccoli heist of 1986 in New York City.