Evening star., 1948-01-06
This and That
By Charles Z. TrdceUeH

COLUMBIA ROAD.
Vermont uses mothballs to drive away squirrels
(probably grays)
"A word to the wise. Yours, p B. j."
This column has had no experience with using
old-fashioned mothbals to keep squirrels out
Of bird feeding stations.
We do not mind squirrels in our feeding
stations and believe that no one else should,
either, but at the same time we realize that
many friends of birds do.
They might try the mothball cure, and see
what happens.
At the same time close watch should be
kept to see that no harm befalls the songsters
Chemicals and birds do not mix very well
The smell OF mothba1ls ought to be enough
to drive away any sensible creature, two-legged
or four-legged.
But creatures in nature have a habit of pay
ing no attention to matters outside their an
cestral knowledge
We believe that our own squirrels would solve
the mothballs simply by paying no attention
to them.
If others try them. we would be interested
in hearing their reports on success or lack
thereof
Ordinarily squirrels do not remain too long
in any bird feeding station. They knock seed
and grain to the ground. thus furnishing food
to the birds, no matter how much they monopo-
lie the tray itself.
"BERWYN, Nd
Dear Sir:
I'VE have two pure albino squirrels with pink
eyes on our street, and from the time they
appeared over three months ago there has been
only one other gray squirrel that seemed to be a
litter mate of the two whites. think it must
be an unusual thing in nature to find two
alhinOS in 0ne litter cho rto Ie
inherited from gray parents in the ratio OF one
white to three grays. Also, alhinos have greater
difficulty in surviving due to their poor eye
sight and snowy color.
1T is interesting to note that the two whites
do not travel more than one block in any direc-
tion from their home box, SO far as have
been able to determine by talking with neigh
bors. They also are very careful in jumping
from tree to tree and in other ways seem to
show that they recognize their limitations.
Many OF us wonder that they have lived as
long as they have with all of the cats, dogs,
automobiles and other hazards that are present
in the neighborhood. However, we put out
occasion for them to have to hunt for food, a
factor that may have great deal to do with
their Stay-at-home behavior.
The two whites are together constantly and
are now full grown. If the two are different
in sex, We can now look forward to the inter-
esting possibility of having litter OF pure
albinos next spring.
yours sincerely j. W. Mex"
X X
There are probably not more than q dozen
albino squirrels in and around Washington at
any one time.
In contrast, there must be several hundred
black squirrels, and as many rusty ones.
The total squirrel population of the National
Capital and suburbs is anybody's guess. Ours is
10000 squirrels.
E. r. L, of Takoma Park, Md. wants to know
the identity Of bird shaped like = tufted tit
mouse but larger. Head, crest and neck very
black, rest Of body gray, The bird shows some
white, and the breast Is rosy. Also . tiny,
round brown bird, which the writer thinks
is q winter wren. She is correct. As for the
other bird. We are at a loss and would welcome
suggestions as to identity.