Evening star., 1945-04-28
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trace1DeH,
UNIVERSITY PARK.

UNIVERSITY pAftk.
Dear Sir:
Early this morning mother squirrel
moved her family from Our ivy-covered
pine tree to another home in a wooded
lot across the street. She had made her
nest in this tree a couple months ago,
carrying balls of dried grass and twigs
up the tree. The nest is hidden by the
ivy. About a month ago when a man
was cutting down another tree nearby,
he said there were young squirrels in
the nest which he could look down into
A neighbor said that the squirrel would
move her babies as soon as they were
old enough.
so today was moving day. We first
saw her going down the driveway with
one baby. Very soon she returned, and
instead of going directly up the tree
trunk, she climbed the rose trellis to the
top of the garage, jumped to a branch
overhead, and continued to jump from
one branch to another until she reached
the nest. The same route was followed
down. Twice she almost fell as she
jumped with baby The young squir-
rels looked like round balls of fur car
ried in their mothers mouth. When she
went past the kitchen door she stopped
and watched us moment. We could
see the baby's legs clinging tightly to
its mothers neck and head. We saw five
young ones moved.
"On the last trip the mother appeared
to be tired as she had to stop and rest
few times. Then she returned once
more to the nest and this time came
down alone. Apparently she was check
ing to be sure she hadn't left any be-
hind. Satisfied that her moving job
was completed, she came to the kitchen
door for bit of well-earned breakfast.
We were out of peanuts, so gave her a
piece of peanut butter bread and she
sat on the porch and ate hungrily.
Il have enjoyed your column for a
long time and from your description
have identified quite number of birds
that have come to our yard One day
In March last year was thrilled to see
four pairs of bluebirds around the ga
rage, the first live ones I had ever
seen. A day or two later saw one
more, but have seen none since.
Il have read with interest your stories
about Lilly Belle, the robin. Did she re-
turn this year? One squirrel, which we
identify by a notch in his ear, has been
coming here for three years. He some
times sits on the outside window sill
while the cat sits inside the window,
and how they do look at each other!
We would like to know what is the
usual number of young squirrels in a
litter. Also, how long do squirrels ordi-
narlly live? Thanks for your interest,"
ing discussions on various subjects.
VERY truly yours, P. E. S."
X X X
Gray squirrels usually live from five
to ten years.
Ordinarily the family of this squirrel
Is five in number
The squirrels in our yard have never
had more than three or four babies at
a time. Three is the usual number.
Moving the young after they become
sizable seems to be a part of the nor
NAL routine Of these interesting ami
mails
In our yard they have always moved
to tree which gives the youngsters
better sight of the bird-feeding station.
Perhaps there is real method in this.
The young are shown their parents and
other adults feeding, and must look
down with envy upon this scene long
before they are able to become part
of it.
In this way the mother teaches them
to take care of themselves But In for
ests, and in yards where no bird feeding
is carried on, the baby squirrels prob
ably are moved for sanitary and precau-
tionary reasons.
Although the nest is large, 1t would
be almost impossible for the mother to
keep 1t clean, with from three to five
babies living in it. So she moves out
and lets the fresh air and rain do her
housekeeping for her. She already has
constructed the new nest.
It is the part Of squirrel wisdom to
move them, to throw any possible enc
mics of the scent. This caution is
part Of nature. It Is employed by all
living things, and sometimes explains
otherwise irrational seeming actions.
Our local squirrels are fund Of In
terest to persons who will watch them
as wisely as our correspondent. Lilly
Belle. the robin. did not return this
year.