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Squirrels To Blame For Boston Common Tree Lights Going Partially Dark

BOSTON (CBS) -- If you take a close look at the Boston Common Christmas trees, you might notice something a little off.

Some of the holiday lights have gone out.

"I wanted to send a picture to my friend," Carol Beasley told WBZ-TV. "I had to walk around the tree to find a place where the lights were even."

Heather Dwyer said she noticed the lights were off in patches last week.

lights squirrels
Squirrels are causing patches of lights to go dark in the Boston Common. (WBZ-TV)

The city's Parks and Recreation Department said squirrels are to blame. The contractor who installs the lights discovered that the squirrels love copper and have been eating through the wires all season. Now, though, it's a lot more noticeable.

People walking around the Common weren't mad, but they were confused.

"These industrious but misguided squirrels are getting into some mischief," Beasley said.

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The critters have been chewing through copper wires all season. (WBZ-TV)

"Why just that one section though?" Brandy Chasteen said. "Like, if squirrels are eating all of it, they're going to be like just this one section?"

Even Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was left scratching his head.

"We're putting lights on the trees that probably belong to the squirrels so they're probably thinking 'What's going on here?' and biting through them," he said.

Luckily, a fix is free.

Walsh said repairing the lights won't cost taxpayers because fundraisers pay for them. As for the uneven views, some told WBZ they don't mind.

"I love squirrels so bring them on," Cashs Anthony said. "Let them run up the tree. They're God's creatures."

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