New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-09
SQUIRRELS WELL FED.
Com plants That Little Creatures
4re Starring UnfOunded.

I wish all the poor OF NeW-York City vera as
well housed and fed the squirrels in Central
Park" said John ". Smith yesterday. looking out
Of his office window in the Arsenal at two little
gray forms that were friskng together the
snow outside. Mr.. Smith has been the director or
the menagerie at Central Park for the last twelve
pears and as such the feeding of the squirrels
comes under his management. He knows what Is
done for their comfort what neglected bet
ter. probably. than other person or persons In
the city.
feeling OF apprehension has been frequently
expressed by tenderhearted persons since the last
big snowstorm lest the squirrels in Central Park
should suffer from want of food. People who live
near the upper west side OF the park. part some
what isolated from the troops Of visitors who fire.
quent the Fifty-ninth-s ST section. have reported
that the SQUIRRELS there were starving, inasmuch
as the park department did not feed them. and
there were stray pedestrians 10 throw them
nuts or bread.
Mr. Smith has a tender heart too. but he said
yesterday that he did not feel that the case Of the
fQuirrels Of hardship, or that il warranted
Smith said:
Fears for The safety of the squirrels during and
place in addition to ali the nests they build for
themselves mere are seventy-f1ve more official
homes-smaH houses about two feet square-that
were placed among the trees two winters ago by
rqfnLnl5S%ner WILCOX These houses are dis
on the upper west side are as well provided for
Nhen he houses We're first put up. tho squirrels
Were very shy Of them 1t seemed as If they
and exposure rather than go 10 live in them.
gradually their suspicious and dislike disappeared
Last winter good many of the little houses were
tenanted. and this year they all taken. No
could not say how many squirrels can be accom-
modated IN one Of them but / should say it would
De the more the merrier in cold snap.
NC~. as 10 the question of starvation. Every
squirrel that is OLD enough lays b. store of nuts
enc grains Tor the winter. This is enough 10 keep
them in comfort long they get TO f. but
after & heavy snowstorm they generally IN
assistance and when they get it from the park
department, but We have to wait for Of
paths 10 be beaten out for the TO get around
trusting luck for little pensioners TO
y Ne threw IL around prOmiscuOusly the
face Of the snow IL would sink in and be lost
The men VINO feed the squirrels have 10 look
for bare. sheltered spots under trees in the lea
as on a table and so long there is grain
let the little things come and comb again.
Two men feeding the SQUIRRELS
Tween them they carry two bushels or peanuts
They have regular beat which consists in going
up the east walk OF the park. down the middle
walk and uD the west side The nuts served
10 the squirrels in the shell-that is the nuts
in the shell The west side squirrels get just the
same consideration rs those near Fifty-ninth-st
Our squirrels stand in danger not OF starvation.
but Of overlooking. So much food do they get that
they frequently decline TO eat it bat carry il away
and secrete IL in their winter soreTeoaa 1t very
rare find a dead squirrel IN the park, but II the
tquiTrels were starving should be finding their
hoeies continually. Another fact which leads
believe that they keep well and happy is that they
multiply rapidly. At times have catch
tneTn and give them away 10 other parks that want
tlurFels: but if they We're being starved frozen
go. - osath the park would soon be depopuiated. The
1uth Is, squirrel go a week without food and
remain In good condition.
I'M ara DO the best We can II is not possible TO
,nep man solely 10 to this department of park
times - W IN IN - " i4 SUNNI
IS for the Central Park birds they are no worse
~ - lor we have never fed them. Birds not
~ - p1fk departments anywhere. that know OF.