The local authorities in Bistrita, a city located in northern Romania, plan to spend up to EUR 3,700 this year to buy a house for squirrels.

“It’s a squirrel aviary which includes four nests, a tree, and other elements,” Bistrita’s mayor Ovidiu Cretu told local Agerpres.

The squirrel aviary will cover some 6-10 sqm and will cost around EUR 3,700. However, the City Hall will spend at least EUR 4,600 from the local budget on this project as it also plans to buy up to eight squirrels to populate the city’s park. The price of one squirrel amounts to EUR 100.

The authorities thus aim to have the squirrel families settle in the park as the local ones have migrated to the woods around the city after the park was revamped. The attempts to draw the existing squirrels back to the park with nuts have been futile, according to the mayor.

He hopes that the "imported" squirrels will nest and breed in the park and make the new loft their home. "When you will go to the park you will see squirrels scouring alongside the people," the mayor hopes.

The Bistrita Local Council approved this acquisition during a meeting on Tuesday, February 2.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com