Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-03

squirrel destroying eggs or young
OF many kinds of wild birds, game
and other kinds.
The depredations of these squir-
rcls seem to be of the most general
kind and to include nearly all kinds
Of birds. Mr.. b. F. Shaffer, Nittanv.
Center county. Pa. safes that he
saw a red squirrel eating a young
robin and also that they kill different
kinds of Wild birds and suck their
eggs and also sometimes catch
young poultry.
The presence of the red squirrel is
by common con sent among many
naturalists, dangerous to useful
birds for the protection OF which
there is such an insstcnt demand at
this time.
Dr. c. Hart Merriam. who for
many wears was chief of the Biologi-
cal Survey, Washington. d. c.. and
who ranks as one of the foremost
authorities in the United States on
birds and mammals writes: 1.-THE
propensity to suck the eggs and
DESTROY the Young of our smaller
birds is the worst trait of the red
squirrel and is in itEelf sufficient
reason for it's determination. at least
about the habitations of man.
have myself known him to rob the
rests of the red-eyed VIRGO. chippin"
SPARROW. robin. wilson's thrush and
ruffed grouse. and doubt not that
thousands of eggs arc annually
sacrificed in the Adirondack region
alone, to crafty his appetite. There
fore. where abundant. as he always
Is during springs that follow nut
years. his influence in checking the
Increase of our insectivorous hircs
can hardly he over estimated DR..
4 X. Fisher informs me that on
three occasions he has known thes~
squirrels to destroy Young robins. |
have long been aware that this am
NAL was an occasional depredator of
the poultry yard and find in a Jour-
raj written twelve years ago, a note
to the effect that case had come to
my knowledge where one was caught
in the act of killing both chickens
and ducks.
According to all accounts the rel
squirrel, like other predatory ami
mails, is extremely ne 'ressive >?nd
does not fear to attack his prey. For
example. some years ago DR.. Howard
Mellor of Sconnelltown, near West
Chester. Pa, found that red squirrels
we're destroying the birds by robbing
nesting places and feeding boxes.
He states that the little animals
would ascend the trees which are
scattered about the lawn and steal
tie eggs. The eggs were lifted out
of the nest and dropped to the grass
covered ground and then the sly rob-
hers would descend and devour
them. Among the species thus at
tackled were robins and cat birds.
The late Arthur Chapman, former
Game Commissioner of Pennsylvania
wrote: "Reliable farmers and poul-
tcrcrs tell me red squirrels some
times. but rarely, will attack and kill
lttle chickens and they have been
known to catch, kill and devour small
ruffed grouse"
Mr.. August Koch a noted natural
ist of Williamsport. Pa, who died
several years ago wrote as follows:
FED squirrels. decidedly smaller In
size than gray squirrels are much
quicker. The red species is bold,
impudent and aggressive. He IS
fearless and loquacious and does not
hesitate to go out and battle to
death with the gray.
Red SQUIRRELS destroy many green
apples and pears be cutting the fruit
to eat the seeds.
The late Mahlon Hutchinson OF
Devon, Pa, styled red squirrels. RATS
Of the Tree Tops" which climb about
with agility stealing the eggs and
nestlings of birds and then about
the time nuts were ready to gamer
from some unusually fine English
walnut trees, on his premises. these
four footed marauders would take
most Of the crop.
In some states the red squirrel has
been protected by law but the mass
OF evidence proves him to be des-
troyer of the worst kind, of game
and useful birds and also injurious
to the other interests OF farmers.
Most sportsmen add him to the
list of their enemies and he has been
put on the black list OF the New
York Conservation Commission.