Evening star., 1944-11-21
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trace1UeU.

Squirrels are facing both food and
housing shortage this winter, according
to Ernest P. Walker, assistant director
of the National Geological Park.
BY putting up houses for them and
seeing that they get added food during
the cold these favorite mammals of both
Zoo authorities and plain, ordinary citi-
zens will be able to go through the
winter.
There is an acorn shortage, especially
from the white oaks. There has been
an increased squirrel population owing
to the lack of ammunition during the
past two years.
These factors add up to trouble for
the gray squirrels, Mr.. Walker says. He
is fond of these animals and often en-
tertains them on his desk in the ad-
ministration building.
The acorn shortage is serious but this
can be overcome if citizens will put out
food, including peanuts, sunfower,
watermelon and cantaloupe seed
Increased squirrel population makes
for real house shortage since hollow
trees are few in number nowadays, what
with the care most persons and munich
palities give their trees.
Summer nests, which resemble large
bird nests, are none too stable and tend
to fall to pieces. We have seen mother
squirrels repair these nests, however.
and know many of them are used all
winter.
White oaks have made few acorns
this year. This tree natures fruit in
one year and if storm or other inimical
factor intervenes there will be none of
this favorite squirrel food
There are scores of squirrel houses
scattered through the Zoo Park.
These are not large and they are not
difficult to make
The Zoo official says that 10 by 10
by IL inches is large enough, with the
entrance hole about 2la inches in
diameter.
Most persons, in building a squirrel
house, think it should be or 3 feet
long. Such house makes clumsy LASH
ing to the tree.
wire wrapping is better than
nail If wire is used to lash the box.
to the tree, preferably in a crotch at
least Is feet up, or higher, some cloth
padding should be used where the wire
goes around the bough or trunk.
Almost any type of tree may be used
except the beech. This is too slippery
for squirrels.
Oaks, we believe, are their personal
preference.
The locust, however, suits them very
nicely. In summer they may be biting
off long branches from the locusts, wad-
ding them up into little balls and carry
ing them to the summer nest, so-called
r A box about u inches square will
sometimes hold as many as half dozen
squirrels, the father, mother, and two
or three children.
That's packing em in pretty tight,
but animals of all sorts love to sleep
so, and it keeps them warm on the cold
est nights.
While almost any sort of old boards
will do, the thicker the better for squir-'
rel protection. Painting is not necessary.
A few months in the open weathers
them perfectly, both to the liking of
the squirrels and their human friends.
Squirrels the world around are going
to have difficulty this winter The war
has caused many of them trouble In
Africa, various types of tree squirrels
took to the ground, and lived in holes.
Friends of squirrels feel that If steps
are not taken over here, something
equally drastic may happen to our
friends of the parks and forests.
The gray squirrel in its various color
phases s-gray, black and whites the
only one we have around here.
1t Is a born comedian, and will repay
in fun the outlay which any one makes
in its behalf. BY and large, it does not
do much damage although too many of
them at times can become somewhat Of
. nuisance.