Plainfield Police Warn Of Squirrels, 'Scourge Of Holiday Lights'

PLAINFIELD, IL — Squirrels can be a scourge of holiday light displays, police in Plainfield are warning after receiving several calls about lights being cut. After a thorough investigation, however, police determined the lights weren't cut at all, they were chewed.

"Would you believe the plastic insulation that covers various electrical wires is soy based?" the department wrote on Facebook Tuesday. "Soy, the food source for many animals. The additive, in one form or another, in many items on grocery store shelves...yep, that soy."

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"The majority of the calls we get about lights being cut, the culprit are critters," police said, explaining that squirrels and other rodents are often attracted to chewing on electrical wires, including the ones that power festive, multi-colored displays.

"Wires used in automobiles, small electric devices and holiday decorations [are] all covered in food," Police said. So, "if your Christmas lights look cut, look closely, it might have been a critter."

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