do not disturb the squirrels

A nature reserve near Liverpool, NW England, contains a $46,000 engagement ring, belonging to the fiancee of soccer star Wayne Rooney.A statement was issued asking people not to search for the ring so that the 300 squirrels of the reserve are not disturbed.

Yet another example of people's overwhelming concern for squirrel populations and not humans. Sounds just like Ameritech telling me that they couldn't fix the phone line because the squirrels were on it. (True story; apparently while they handle other technical difficulties, they don't handle 'squirrels on the line.' Yes, because that would be horrible, wouldn't it? Inconveniencing the bloody squirrels.)