Evening star., 1944-08-29
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeU.

Another endearing trait of the cute
little gray squirrel" says w. D. G.,
sending in the clipping headed "Squir-
rel Bites Maryland Girl, Then Chases
Her"
Yes, it is so unusual that it gets in
the papers!
Mostly the local squirrel is well-be-
haved animal. Only once since we have
been interested in them have we heard
OF anybody being bitten by one. That
was woman in Chevy Chase, Md.
Perhaps there is some belligerent
quality in the Maryland squirrels Or
maybe they are intelligent, can read,
and have been boning up on mans be-
havlor to men, as eXemplified around
the world
We have had scores of these animals
IN the yard. during the past Is years,
and have never seen the slightest trace
of malice in them, either to each other.
to birds, or to other animals-including
man.
Reports occasionally come in of bel
ligerent rabbits There is something
about the idea Of rabbits or squirrels
chasing dogs and cats and even men
which tickles the human fancy.
~ ~
Recently in this column we told of
how Thumper, the large black and white
cat. played with a squirrel, permitting
it to chase him around the yard.
This was not repeated.
Inc cats idea is play, not capture.
He has had any number of chances to
catch squirrel, but has never taken
them. For cat, he is playful animal.
The usual idea, when a squirrel or
other small animal attacks a larger
one, is that it is mad" This is ALWAYS
possibility, especially this year, but in
the story from Annapolis another souir-
rel, which chased dog, was found free
of rabies.
Differences in animal behavior are not
very many, after ALL There is no one
who has not marveled, at some time
or other, over the same appearance and
behavior OF species Of animals. Over
the centuries they have kept their strain
pure in way which must be the despair
OF the human poseurs who speak fondly
OF being "supermen"
All In all, the animals make very de-
cent citizens of a world which man has
desecrated with more blood than thev
have.
In our city and suburban back Yards.
the gray squirrel is one of the best rep
resentatives of creatures which need not
be ashamed before God.
Bird feeding is a sure wav to attract
squirrels. We know city wards where
some years ago no squirrels were to be
found, but where today they are abun-
dant. 1t was bird attraction which made
the difference
Feeding the birds will also attract
rats, but this, as pointed out here be-
lore, is not detriment. The rats are
already in the neighborhood, and their
attraction to one point simply brings
them out in the open.
1he point is that the householder
should take advantage of the time when
the birds are asleep to kill the roaming
rats. Intelligence and study must be
put into the job, however, so that no
pets are harmed. Red squill bait is best,
and even it should be used in such ways
that no dogs or cats, or birds, can get
at it. If there really are rats they will
clean up the bait.
The squirrel is related to the rat, but
SO dlstantly that there is no real rela-
tiol, JuSC as Jnere Is no genuine rela-
tlonship any more between monkey and
man.
The gap between is large in both
cases.
We are glad we like the SQUIRRELS.
What are few tomatoes, and ears of
corn, and tulip bulbs, against the con-
slant moving picture they make in the
garden?
The fact that they have a sense of
humor ties them closely to mankind.
Their acrobatics would please the hardy
marines who have been taught how to
go over wall or up the side of a land
ing barge.
We think that Washington and its
suburbs would be definitely the poorer
without the squirrels Those who dis
like the gray sort ought to be glad it
Is not the red species. Then you really
would have something to kick about!