Every year, the city of Boston receives a Christmas tree from the people of Nova Scotia, in appreciation of the assistance provided during the Halifax explosion of 1917. It’s a lovely gesture, and perhaps a good marketing move. This year it’s all going to hell, however, because squirrels are apparently chewing through the tree’s Christmas lights.

When asked why the squirrels keep going after the colorful lights, McGrath laughed and said: “I don’t know. You’re going to have to ask the squirrels.”

Multiple squirrels on the Common refused to respond to my repeated requests for comment, despite a good deal of running on my part.

---