Ball stealing squirrel

I was on the 8th hole in a local competition and I hit a tee shot up the fairway, completely straight shot(good for me ^^) and as I was walking down to take my next shot I saw a squirrel run across. Grab the ball and run off into the adjacent woods. Is there a rule of what I can do when this happens(does it count as landing out of bounds, do i get a drop) but I went back to the tee and played it again. with not as much luck. with it landing in the rough.

It's funny looking back on it but at the time I was pretty angry. 

Help will be appreciated.

Luke 

Luke,You replace it to as near to where it was without penalty.

Luke,

Dave is correct there is a rule something along the lines of "outside interference"

This has happened to me with a crow so I made a point of finding out.  Dave is spot on. 

 Bugger, I wish I'd have known that: on Sat I hit a super drive down the middle, though over a brow. No kids were about but no ball when I got there, was puzzled but dropped another and took the penalty. At end of round I was even more miffed as I would have shot a 78 which in the wind ans at the course I played was good. I can only only assume one of the above happened.

 Thanks I'll remember that. I suppose you have to witness the theft?

Crows do fly off with Golf Balls.

Once drove the 4th at Roundhay, 444yds. Couldn't believe it until I was told that a Crow picked up the Ball and as it flew away another Crow attacked it and it dropped my Ball onto the Green. Guys in front couldn't understand at first how a Ball hit the Green from a point directly above them.

If the guilty animal drops the ball in play you have the choice of replacing it in the original position or playing it as it lies.  I take it you took the latter option Lyth.....

Chris,

I believe I played it from on the Green. First I knew the Ball had got there but didn't know how. It was only later I was told about how it got there. The 4th at Roundhay is the one the kids nick your Balls from, it's a blind Tee shot.

TheLyth

I would pay good money to have one of the those squirrels in my bag. Hit a drive and it magically appears on the green!

Pat I would have thought that either you or one of playing partners would have to witness the incident and have a pretty good idea where the ball had come to rest to take advantage of the rule.

I had a similar incident in the last medal I entered.  I hit my ball into some trees that were well spaced out and had short grass under them.  All of us saw the ball rolling but just before it stopped it disappeared.  We all just assumed it had settled into the grass.  When we got to the place we had last seen it there was no sign of the ball but there were three rabbit holes in the area.  After five minutes searching we concluded that the ball must have gone down one of the holes but as it was too far away for anyone to be absolutely sure I retruned to the tee and played 3.

 Jon, yes I would have thought that was the case. Perhaps it was the same crow that nicked D Lythgoes ball as it was only two miles away (as the crow flies).