Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-02
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeH.
BELT ROAD.

Dear Sir.
Last spring my daughter rescued a
baby squirrel. With the aid of a home
made incubator and small cage it was
raised successfully so that by midsum-
mer it was half grown.
An outside cage was built, the frame
by 3 by feet, which was covered by
wire mesh. An overhanging peaked
roof made of canvas, stretched over a
framework, YVES added, giving a clear
ance OF about inches between the
top OF the wire and the roof proper.
An l8-inch diameter exercise wheel.
small platform and wooden box for
sleeping purposes were the furnishings.
The cage was placed on a platform
about Az feet tall.
We had named him Frisky, as 1t
was very descriptive, but the many aIlu-
sions to that little monkey and his
many antics finally resolved in lust
calling him plain Monkey.
Monkey was allowed to explore the
immediate surroundings under super
vision and took great delight in climb
ing the mulberry tree and running
around the roof of the, garage, the
fence and porch.
was OF great Importance to him, and
wishing to assist him in the transition
from captive to wild state, it was de-
clded to release it by putting small
opening in the cage so that it could
come and go as it pleased
"A 3-inch diameter hole was made in
wood panel, and it was fitted into
the side of the cage frame in a vertical
position. This served the purpose, but
the birds discovered the entrance and
invaded the cage in increasing num-
bers.
The possessive instinct of the squir-
rel was outraged and a battle ragged
over the food. 1t was evident this must
be stopped before damage was done.
The board panel was removed from
the side and put on the top under the
peaked roof and fitted into the frame
in horizontal position.
This proved very satisfactory, as
Monkey soon discovered that he could
come and go at will, while the birds,
although they hoped all over the cage
and platform, looking longingly at
the food, have never figured out how
to enter the hole in the horizontal
panel.
x X
For several weeks Monkey explored
his immediate surroundings, gradually
going farther afield.
AT first he would return each night
to his sleeping quarters. It was OBJ
served in this short time he was re-
verting to the wild state. He would not
come when called, and, in fact, by the
end OF this short period refused to be
handled or petted at all. He built a
nest elsewhere and then did not return
to the cage to sleep but only to eat.
AT about this time he began carry
ing nuts from the cage to cache them
as insurance against some future fam
Inc. The spectacle of this busy little
creature industriously carrying nuts
from an apparently unlimited supply
attracted other squirrels.
They would come and watch the
proceedings from some convenient van
tage point, such as the mulberry tree or
garage roof, and then upon investi-
eating the cage would find the secret
entrance, and another member would
be added to the squirrel feeding club.
AT the present time, there are about
eight members, some with such definite
Vial oSeCi loCiCo GIldI we nave named
them. One, a battle-scarred veteran
with very short tail we call Ratty
Tail A very old gray one we call
Granny A black is called 'Blacky,'
and then the one which always carries
two peanuts at a time we call Piggy
OF course, there is also Monkey.
due to the aggressiveness of some
OF the squirrels. or to the fact that
possession is at least nine points of
their law, it was found necessary to
make several openings in the cage.
This provided quick exit for the less
belligerent ones
They feed early in the morning, and
it is not unusual to see four or five at
one time sitting around on the tree,
garage or fence, eating nuts and taking
turns retrieving them from the cage.
This feeding station was not
planned but just grew out of the desire
to help our little pet, but it can be
truthfully said that it has been a lot
of fun. The constant example of these
little creatures storing a part of their
sustenance is lesson that can benefit
all of us.
Respectfully yours, w. H. B."