A troop of fat, hungry squirrels has put the kibosh on a downtown St. Paul parkB次元官网网址檚 holiday lights display.

Friends of Mears Park in the Minnesota city had to forego the usual display this year because squirrels chewed through the lightsB次元官网网址� wires last year and the vendor refused to put up with the headache and cost again this year, the reported Tuesday.

The wires, it turns out, were coated with polylactic acid, a derivative of corn sugar, an appealing appetizer for squirrels spoiled by park visitors who wonB次元官网网址檛 stop feeding them, said Ann LaBore, co-chair of the friends group.

B次元官网网址淭hey try and lead them around the park,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥ne guy was trying to get one to jump on him. ItB次元官网网址檚 a little disturbing.B次元官网网址�

Instead of the traditional display, the friends group is using a projector to create a kaleidoscope of snowflakes and base lights that bathe the trees in green and blue. LaBore said sheB次元官网网址檚 gotten complaints that the display is far too anemic this year.

Blame the B次元官网网址渢ree rats,B次元官网网址� La Bore said.

B次元官网网址淧eople look down from their condos or apartments and they want to see the twinkly lights,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲ell, we canB次元官网网址檛 have twinkly lights. It was probably this or nothing.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擳he Associated Press