THOUSAND OAKS : The ‘Squirrel Lady’ Moves to Fillmore

Kathleen Adams, the self-proclaimed “squirrel lady” who angered a neighbor by feeding the rodents in her back yard, has moved from Thousand Oaks even though a judge tossed out a lawsuit against her.

Randy and Nancy Hecht had filed a suit accusing Adams of creating a neighborhood squirrel infestation by feeding the animals in her hillside back yard. But Superior Court Judge John Hunter recently ruled that the suit was unfounded.

In spite of the victory, Adams last week opted to move out of her home of nearly 14 years, citing the stress and discomfort of the neighborhood dispute.

“It had just gotten to be too much,” Adams said. “I couldn’t even go into my back yard anymore.

The Hechts’ attorney, Leigh Datzker, said his clients were happy with the outcome of their two-year legal battle. “Mrs. Adams moved out, so we’ve dismissed the case,” Datzker said. “We could have pursued it further, but now there’s no need.”

The Hechts had argued that squirrels lured into the area by Adams ravaged their lawn, fence and roof, causing $12,000 in damage.

But Adams contended that squirrels are native to the area, and said her feedings did not prompt the fuzzy-tailed rodents’ frequent visits to her yard.

Both parties complained of verbal harassment stemming from the dispute, and said they argued even after the Hechts took legal action.

Those encounters, Adams said, led to her move last week to Fillmore. She said she would miss the hillside neighborhood near Wildwood Park.

“A lot of my friends are there and I loved the area,” she said. “But the worst part is that there are no tree squirrels in my new place. I’ll miss them the most.”