Squirrels chew through wires, force Minnesota park to scale back holiday light display

FILE: The conundrum isn't unique to Minnesota. In 2016, squirrels in Boston, such as the one pictured here, ate the electrical wires of Christmas lights on the Boston Common. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

A troop of fat, hungry squirrels has put the kibosh on a Minnesota park's holiday lights display.

Friends of Mears Park had to forego the usual display this year because squirrels chewed through the lights' wires last year and the vendor refused to put up with the headache and cost again this year, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Tuesday.

WATCH: Christmas light displays from around the world

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 won't stop feeding them, said Ann LaBore, co-chair of the friends group.

"They try and lead them around the park," she said. "One guy was trying to get one to jump on him. It's a little disturbing."

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 she's gotten complaints that the display is far too anemic this year.

RELATED: Florida Army veteran pays off past-due utility bills for families ahead of Christmas

Blame the "tree rats," La Bore said.

"People look down from their condos or apartments and they want to see the twinkly lights," she said. "Well, we can't have twinkly lights. It was probably this or nothing."

MORE: Researchers rank the most dangerous Christmas songs