Via AFP:

LONDON — The strongest and most expensive beer ever created sold out within hours Friday, a Scottish brewery said, as they courted controversy by packaging the bottles inside the bodies of stuffed animals.

BrewDog, the self-described maverick brewery, presented the beer — which contains a record 55 percent alcohol — inside the bodies of dead squirrels and stoats.

Animal rights activists rushed to condemn the stunt.

“It’s pointless and it’s very negative to use dead animals when we should be celebrating live animals,” Advocates for Animals policy director Libby Anderson told BBC Scotland.

“This seems to be a perverse idea.”

BrewDog said the limited edition Belgian ale — made with juniper berries and dubbed “The End of History” — was also the costliest beer ever sold.

The squirrel bottles cost 700 pounds (1,000 dollars, 840 euros) each and the seven stoat bottles went for 500 pounds a pop.

All sold out within four hours of going on sale, BrewDog managing director James Watt told AFP.

Watt said the controversial drink was the last in a line of experimental brews, explaining: “For the final installment in the strong beer series, we wanted to create something epic, something monumental.”

He said there were no plans to come up with a beer to beat this record, insisting: “We’re quite happy at 55 percent.”

As for the taste, Watt described “The End of History” as a “complex” beer with a multitude of flavours including honey, mint and cinnamon.

He recommended sipping the drink “much like you would a malt whiskey”, served up in a spirit glass rather than a pint glass.

I can’t say that sounds appealing at all, but if that’s up your alley I’d love to hear about it.

Via The Telegraph…

A young grey squirrel – using all the flexibility and ingenuity of his species – demonstrates how to get round a supposedly squirrel-proof bird feeder.

The squirrel had somehow managed to slip between the narrow bars of the protective cage and although it was a bit cramped there was sufficient space to enjoy the peanuts inside.

“I had just put out the feeders filled with peanuts for the Blue tits and Great tits but the squirrel moved in very quickly,” he said.

“We do have Grey Squirrels here but they usually feed on the seed on the ground. I have seen them trying to break into the cage before but until now they have never succeeded.

I think I still like the RollerFeeder idea.

For all of the true “squirrel dish” lovers in New Jersey, you’re in luck (maybe)…

Via the North Jersey Media Group…

Jerald Fagliano, project manager with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, said game animals are safe, but residents should avoid wild carrots. His statement clarified a state health warning about eating squirrels that was issued in January, based on the EPA report of high levels of lead in a squirrel tested in October 2006. That advisory will now be rescinded, said Ken Petrone, the state Department of Environmental Protection’s case manager for Ringwood.

As Rachael Ray says about everything that she eats (regardless if she really likes it), Yum-O!

It was bound to happen…

Via The San Mateo Daily Journal

Squirrels that can carry the bubonic plague are burrowing into Foster City levees, leaving the city no other choice but to poison them — at least according to the Department of Public Works.

…

The eradication may be cruel to squirrel lovers, but simple for those thinking of the harm they create. Tiny blue poisonous pellets will be spread around the squirrel burrows. The squirrels will eat the pellets, get sleepy and — in theory — go back into their burrows to die. The city will monitor areas around the burrows to make sure squirrel carcasses are not present. If they are, the company the city contracts with will have 72 hours to remove the dead squirrels, according to last night’s report to the City Council.

And I’m sure that the PETA protest will begin shortly.

More red and grey squirrel news…

“A contraceptive product would remove the threat of red squirrel extinction,” said Dr Michael Carey. “We first have to get it developed and then get it fed to the grey squirrels, who have the breeding capacity of rats. “We don’t want to see grey squirrels eradicated, just their number brought under control.”

…if left unchecked the grey squirrel population could also affect the timber industry given its ability to remove vast amount of bark from trees.

The first grey squirrels to arrive in Ireland are thought to have been six brought over from England as a wedding present in 1911.

Man am I glad nobody gave me squirrels as a wedding gift. And who invited that person?

Read the article at BBC News.

Wow, I’m almost speechless…

SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Some people might think Mary Nacey’s devotion to her foster pets is a little nutty, but the Northern California woman says that mothering abandoned baby squirrels is a privilege that comes naturally.

Mary Nacey said that even though the job is time-consuming, she would rather stay home and watch the squirrels grow than go out for dinner or a movie. When the babies go, she misses them.

Does Kathy Bates’ character in the movie Rat Race come to mind to anyone else?

Read the entire article at Yahoo! News.

Via the Wilmington News Journal…

OHIO – A squirrel in a transformer knocked out the power Sunday morning to two Mitchell Road residences.

“The power went out at 11:45 a.m. and was restored by 3:10 p.m.,” said Kevin Hall, director of engineering for Dayton Power & Light.

The 2007 squirrel season in Indiana opens on August 15th this year…

If you’re a squirrel hunter who prefers a shotgun instead of a small caliber rifle, it should be noted that Winamac does not have a shot restriction on shotgun shells. Of course, what type of gun you use is a matter of choice. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. This writer prefers a .22 in long rifle with a descent scope. This is because a scope helps in low-light conditions (i.e., in the deeply shaded woods before the leaves come off) for allowing pinpoint shooting.

Squirrel hunting is a great way to introduce people, especially children, to the sport of hunting.

“By and large, the squirrel hunting here at Winamac is underutilized; there’s an awful lot of opportunity for it,” Despot said.

For more information on Winamac FWA, call (574) 946-4422.

…man, oh, man we just can’t wait!!! Grab your guns and little ones and head on out for a good ole’ time!

[Read the full article at Indiana Game and Fish.]

BERLIN (Reuters) – An aggressive squirrel attacked and injured three people in a German town before a 72-year-old pensioner dispatched the rampaging animal with his crutch.

Continue reading at Reuters.