St. Landry democrat., 1892-06-25
CENTRAL PARK SQUIRRELS.
The Birds Nests Are Few on Ac.
count of the Gray Nutcrackers.

Central Park is the great squirrel
center OF the country. Probably
more Of the little rodents are found
to the square acre in this public pleas
foreground than in their most favor
lite haunts among the wild nut groves,
says u writer in Hdrper's Weekly
Their exact number has never been
accurately asctrtaned, but irregular
attempts to take their census have
resulted in the remarkable disclosure
OF population running up into tho
thousands
The gray squirrel colony increases
rapidly every year. SO tame and
lively do they become in early spring
when hunting for food that they will
often approach visitors to the park,
and almost beg for food If a nut is
thrown to them, they will approach
within half dozen feet to get it, and
then run away to some tree to nlbble
it.
During their breeding season they
are very wary and shy. They seldom
approach their nests directly, but run
up neighboring trees, and jump from
branch to branch until they have
completely bewildered those below.
Their antics at such times are OF
great interest to all pedestrians.
When the young ones are first able
50 run about, the Park is full Of small
families wandering over the fields IN
fearch Of nuts.
At one time the common gray SPUR.
rels were 80 abundant in the Eastern
States that they We're considered a
scourge by the farmers; and heavy
premiums we've offered for their de-
struction. They destroyed grain
crops as we'll as fruit orchards; but
gunners and sportsmen have long
since reduced their numbers, SO that
it is rarely one finds d large colony IN
any woods.
It is doubtful if many birds could
breed in the park owing to the
presence of SO many squirrels, for the
rodents are passionately fond OF eggs.
They will not only eat the eggs in the
nests, but they will often destroy the
young birds themselves, making it
almost impossible for o brood to
reach maturity. Although the park
is the great resort for song birds, it Is
Il strange fact that comparatively few
of them nest there, although they
would not be disturbed by the people
who visit the place. 1t is very prob
able that there is some connection
between the presence Of the gray
squirrels i'll the park and the noted
| absence Of many birds nests.
The gray squirrels are in their nat.
ural haunts in this central portion OF
the city. Long before the park was
laid out, this whole upper section
Of Manhattan Island was the home
and resort Of the squirrels and birds.
They were then only disturbed by
the hunters, but their numbers In
this way were kept down. When the
park was laid out, a few old couples
remained in it, and finally the city
grew around the place 80 that they
could not retreat further north. They
were then hemmed in on every side;
but as protection was extended to
them by the Park Board their num-
bers rapidly increased, until to-day
the colony is about the largest in this
country.
The rodents are great additions to
the park, and their presence is al
ways to be desired. They give an
interest to the scene even in mid
winter, and it would be a great loss to
have them sacrificed to any prejudiced
notion. They do little or no domage
to the trees, and there are no fruits
or grain fields for them to destroy!