Evening star., 1945-10-03
This and That
By Charles =. TrdceUeu
CAROLINA PLACE,

Dear Sir:
II have been feeding . chipmunk
peanuts all summer and now I am
disturbed about an increasing number
Of holes which are being dug under
and around box of mint which stands
on four cement blocks. In 10 days
the number has increased TO seven
holes. Holes are two and three inches
In diameter and dirt Is neatly piled
up nearby. Like In all suburban areas,
know there must be some rats around
and do know definitely that We have
many rabbits ON our lawn. Naturally
I don't want to harm the chipmunks
If they have made the holes, but am
greatly concerned a TO whether or
not the rats are making them.
do chipmunks or possibly rabbits
burrow in like this, and would the holes
be Of the size mentioned or do you
increase alarms me since the burrows
lead under the porch and house. Ny
cocker spaniel dog dossnt seem 10
pick up any scent by the holes. Any
advice you can give win b much ap-
preciated.
LET me thank you for the articles
about birds. We enjoy them, aimee We
feed the birds winter and summer and
have many around.
very truly yours, II. r.
y At
He who feeds chipmunks must *.
pect to have chipmunk burrows!
These beautiful and interesting lit.
tie creatures are builders Of very elab-
crate dens, connected by many tunnels.
The wary animal digs out first one
tunnel and then another. most Of them
leading nowhere.
These are simply to fool his enemies.
He often has two main entrances,
from tunnels leading In opposite direc-
tions, so that If he hears danger in
one direction. he may run out the
other.
His main den Is large enough to hold
half hushel or more OF grains and
seeds and other foods which he care
fully and laboriously stores away for
the winter.
There is not much harm to be feared
from the chipmunks.
Careful watching OF the various OPEN
ings would show definitaly whether
they or rats are the diggers.
The rat usually does not dir %
many tunnels to throw an enemy of
the scent. he Is. for one thing, more
fearless, and for another, he knows
through centuries Of experience that
most other animals any way near his
size are afraid of him.
Chipmunks are very fond of rock
or cement work in any form. Burrows
beneath 1t offer protection OF the best
sort. In addition, these little things
have real fondness for rockeries. II
is often possible, in suburban areas,
to lure them by building q properly
constructed rock garden. A rock garden,
to be the proper sort Of rock garden,
must be built up, not nat. stones
merely laid on the ground. even with
rock garden plants between them, do
not constitute true rock garden. II
is necessary to build up, as we'll as out
to get the right eject, and to create
the soil pockets which simulate those
In the Alps and other rocky terrain.
In such q garden, chipmunks come
into their own, and seldom interfere
in any way with the flowers.
Our correspondent should spend the
time necessary TO watch the burrows
and TO determine whether chipmunks
or rats are at work.
II the latter. steps should be taken
at once to get rid OF them. Red sQuill
bait OF some sort should be used, and
after mixing It properly, 1t should bs
| placed in tea&poonfIll size lots as fal
back In the runs a any one may reach
This, of course, only In case 1t hal
been definitely determined that rat.
are in the runs. There may be some
danger to the chipmunks around. bui
il the rats are in possession, there Ii
not much likelihood that the chip
munks viii dispute the digginss Will
| them. especially d Aighk