![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v2/images/header/email-15x10.gif){kind=small}
Subscribe
![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/icon_email-story.gif){kind=icon}
Get News Alerts to your Email & Cell Phone
FREMONT — A battle between squirrels and homeowners is turning violent in the Wayne County town of Fremont.
The squirrel population is growing so quickly in the small town that a dozen people have asked the police for help.
Now, Chief Floyd Hobbs is asking the town board for permission to shoot the animals in rare cases where cages do not work. It sounds unusual, but he says the rodents are potentially dangerous.
"You're talking about structure damage," Hobbs says. "You're talking about chewing into electrical wires, which definitely could be a fire hazard. Also, we're concerned about disease."
The town board would have to approve the idea before it would take effect.
The Chief says only he would be pulling the trigger, not homeowners.
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/share/2012/02/09/10711513/4f348e7981bb5-51x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2012/02/11/10717396/thumbnail-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2012/02/04/10712136/pics_agunn53833-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717011/10717011-1328936455-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717059/10717059-1328939591-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717043/10717043-1328939633-100x75.jpg)
WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.