ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – After two recent squirrel interruptions of playoff games, the Cardinals have put out the squirrel traps baited with peanut butter.

“We’ve got a couple different reports where we’ve seen two, maybe three, squirrels,” said Cardinal’s Vice President of Stadium Operations Joe Abernathy, “It’s probably a small family that’s in here.”

While fans thrilled to the sight of a “rally squirrel” hopping across the grass in front of Skip Schumaker batting in Wednesday night’s game — and a squirrel sneaking across the infield Tuesday night — Cardinals management is not amused.

Baited with peanut butter, squirrel trap on bleacher wall at Busch Stadium

“From a stadium operations standpoint, we need to insure that the game can go on without interruption,” Abernathy said.

Abernathy says the problem surfaced only recently one afternoon, when members of the grounds crew chased away a squirrel seen trying to bury a peanut in the outfield.   Since then squirrels have been seen foraging for popcorn and peanuts in the bleachers.  They’ve also been spotted in the bull pen.

If the Cardinal’s fail to advance in the playoffs in Philadelphia Friday, the grounds crew will have all winter to deal with the infestation.   If the Cardinals take one more game against the Phillies, October baseball will continue at Busch stadium and the nation will be watching for another squirrel to take the field.

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