Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-02-05
PRAIRIE SQUIRRELS
aohG OF THE TRAITS OF THESE GEN
TIE LITTLE CREATURES.

somG OF The TRAITS OF THESE GEN
TIE LITTLE CREATURES.
The Significant Strspes ana SPOT.
That Won For One Variety the
Esm> OF "Fcderation" Squlrrel--7be
Gray Ground Squirrel
As one is driving along the roads OF
western Kansas it Is not an inirequent
occurrence fo- q slender little animal
TO scurry across Just in front Of the
teAm, then turn aud. Standing on mis-
hind feet. fearlessly watch YOU psss.
While hurrying along the stripes and
dots Of the little prairie squirrel are
conspicuous. and when he faces YOU
mis- dark. bright eyes are the noticeable
feature. He Is 4 gentle creature, MS his
c1untenaucs shows. and there IL some
thing almost pathetic in his standing
there SO plainly exposed 70 danger.
When on 'ull fours'' even a small clod
would be as :, mountain to him in ob.
strrctfng his View. so the little fellow.
when his curiosity is aroused. always
stands erect upon his hind feet have
sometimes looked down from an up
stairs window and noticed one OF the
prairie squirrels very near the house
and light tapping on the window pane
would cause him to Immediately as
sumo his usual attitude Of observation.
Whether OF not the squirrel ever looked
up and saw ME DO not know. but he
'vas evidently OH the alert for danger.
And his ho1ue was near-it was less
a two u, Al,o
The striped prairie squirrel is some
times known by the name Of thirteen
lined squirrel or federation squirrel.
The name was given to it in 1921 be-
cause of the six OF eight rows Of longi-
tu0inal stripes with five or seven rows
OF spots between. suggesting the stars
and stripes Of the thirteen original
states. u.
When breaking ground last spring
the prairie squirrels came very near to
me ia their search for edible bulbs. III
TACT they paid no attention to the
ploWn,an. and it seemed that while
searching Cor food the. little company
We're enjoying all their usual social
pleasures. But the most pleasing part
Of the scene was 10 watch squirrel
u
bulb and, while resting on his hind
feet i'll Il half erect attitude cunninglv
hold the bulb between his front feet
and nibblc away. apparently caring
nothing for my close proximity
Tho wild onioi is abundant on our
western prairies. IS is also the grass
hopper, and as the striped prairie SPUR
rel IS particularly fond Of both the
2rasshopper cud the bulb Of the Wild
onion be must consider this land OF
plenty. And the Wild onion not ouly
serves to satisfy the appetite OF the
little squirrel, but tor mouth or more
in the spring its numerous clusters OF
flowers add much 10 the attractiyeness
OF the prairie. The two varieties 80
common here are low growing and
have either pink or pink and white
striped star shaped flowers. The strip
ell prairie squirrel is also fond Of the
bulb Of the sheep sorrel, but doubt Il
that plant is found on our " estern plains.
One morning last October striped
prairie squirrel became frightened at
my approach and darted into the near
est hole, burrow larger than her own
homo. stopped to watch proceedings.
II little while the squirrel came to the
mouth OF the hole and looked OUT; but,
seeing me and no other cause for alarm.
she again disappeared in the burrov
But she seemed uneasy and kept re.
turning every few minutes to look the
held over And soon the cause Of her
anxiety was explained This time
when she made her survey she saw q
gray ground squirrel approaching, and
although he was smaller than the
cause OF her first alarm she was evil
IDENTITY more afraid for him to find her
il, his home tlan&tn brave IN open run,
Put the gray squirrel had noticed the
frespasser and instantly started in Dur-
suit. as soon. however. as he noticed
my presence he abandoned the chase
and ran into his burroN. The striped
prairie squirrel soon disappeared in an
other, hlrIow. presumably her own
-snl noticed its location, and then
kucw that had been between her and
her own home. and this was the cause
Of her seeking shelter in the burrov'
of the gray srcs.nd squirrel This Incl
dent occurred in eastern Kansas. How,
Tar vest tie gray ground squirrel is
toHnd do not know. I think there
are noac OF them i'll FORD county, and
doubt if ti,eT are found at all Oh the
western plains.
The burrows; OF the little striped prai-
re squirrel &C very numerous on the
3rai'ies Of western Kansas and quite
common OF the prairies of eastern
Kansas. but the lone Of the gray
ground squirrel is usually in or near