Squirrel Massacre Investigation at Idaho Campground

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A camping area and archery range in southeastern Idaho was the site of a mass squirrel killing, leaving state wildlife agents puzzled over who could do something like this. The Idaho State-Journal reports somebody killed 20 pine squirrels, eight chipmunks and at least three forest grouse in late September near Montpelier. The wild animals weren't just killed at the site near Midland Trail Bridge in the Cache National Forest, just off Highway 36 in Emigration Canyon. After they'd been dispatched, the person responsible lined them up in a row — as if they were trophies. Pine squirrels and chipmunks are protected nongame animals; it's illegal to shoot them. The grouse are game birds. If the Department of Fish and Game catches whoever was responsible, they face game wasting charges.