New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-03
DEFENCE OF SQUIRRELS.
Adirondack DspeIler Sings the Praise
of the RED Brother"
20 the Editor Of The Tribune.


SIR: Having had an intimate acquaintance witt,
the red squirrel for six years. and a bowling ac-
quaintance all my life, feel justified in giving
your correspondent "A Country Cottager'' a few
hints
In the first place, the "Cettager' has invaded
the home of the red squirrel It is safe to assume
he has cut and destroyed the beeches and spruce
trees whose fruit helped the little creatures
through the bitter winters Of these north woods,
Has the "Cottager'' taken the very rooftree of
the squirrel to cover his head? Is II a wonder
the squirrels try with teeth and claws. to regain
what has been taken from them? Is the mother
squirrel to be blamed for seeking the "fuzz' the
'Cottager' is so about, even though it be the
upholstery of the "Cottagers' furniture7 Granted
that the squirrel times tries to steal the eggs
Of birds ''Ndr. sandys' says. is this circum-
stance in contrast TO the almost total extinction
Of the birds whose feathers the human beings
use to decorate their hats?
Would the '-Cottager'' exterminate the humans
who hunt and destroy almost everything that Iives
In the wild woods? Whose advertising horrors
ruin our beautiful valleys? Whose hideous brick
yards and icehouses have reduced the once wonGer-
full Hudson to a highway for hlghWayIneni - ! ne 4
the human" In mild way let me begin with the
"Cottager." II he Will tin the bottom OF his pu-
them tin roof or tin shingles viii be wise
precaution not only against sources nuL d pio-
lection from fire. and il is said from liSntnlns
brother and Kindness viii do for him what ex-
a fair return for what he takes, and peace VIII
An old cotton quilt hung out Will be a Joy to
red brother" He will carefully line MS nest ZOE
soft cotton to the "cottager's" upholstery. few
nuts daily that he can s{STe FOR FOR e@s5 his nbie
feet to climb slippery tree trunks Some scraps OF
bread, leftover pancakes,and an apple once III d
while viii make the little creature happy anu VIII
his confidence 49,
woods we tanned one beautiful red squirrel. She
brought her little ones to US the following sP1lns
ten tame 6aTent SQUIRRELS about the house, with
manv others scattered Through the woods, who
have gone out to seek their fortunes, and VINO
70 scoid. but with a friendly soft call, and then
scurry Of little feet and red brotheF' IS val
hood were given in kindness and sentences If
the human and viii hunt and fight If driven to
it; but, given a chance. how quickly they respond.
his iniquitv Take for example the youths who
haunt these beautiful noun tain trails, and in mere
leave the poor numbering hedgehog that has no
Of eseage Add to this the dang % G5 6T
these beautiful woods are alas! haunted py sucn
Of the red squirrels thirteen chtpmunks four jon
cos and a buejay who come every morning early
there and warbler in a branch close by not in the
least disturbed by the squirrels LttIe cnst B
over delicate morsels and scanperlns 70 ana rG 70
avoid collision, but no serious trouble ever as us
the result of patient kindness in these denlze9s OF
the forest he would take heart Of grace ana, IN
stead OF trying to eXIermlnaLS these pretty cree
ures, he would guide them TO his Preside and make
them his friends
During the bitterest of the winter weather our
guide feeds the squirrels Their ratons consist OF
three peanuts q day. They come regularly 70 the
porch and wait for the guides coming. Our woods
are full of birds But for the gun of the green
horn and the cannon firing of so-called yacht club
We should have. kept even the looms and herons,
now aIasi bright visions OF the past Even the
solemn owls go back to the deep woods TO avoid
" he :.Cottarer' would read Muir's Mountains
Of California he would find a chapter on the red
squirrel well worth his while. Let him also read
in oThe Atlantic for September charming poem
on the Lesser Children" We need more hear {s
turned 70 kindness and consideration for the wild
folk in these north woods, who so full OF re-
sponsiveness when well treated. =
LOVER OF SQUIRRELS.
In the Adirondack Wilderness