Evening star., 1949-02-26
This and That
BIZ Charles 4. Trace1ueH

can squirrel impose on one?
That's the question, and the answer is
easy:
1t sure can!
So can bird, dog or cat.
j. G. A. of Nevada avenue need not worry.
The letter follows:
IT have a good sized yard, where the birds
and squirrels play and sing and forage
around from morning till night; and the
little rascals expect me to keep them sup
piled with nuts. and raisins. and bread, ETC..
continually.
when I throw nuts out for the squirrels.
they are very promptly gathered up and
hauled of to some unknown destination.
and the question that rankles in my head
is Do they eat those nuts or do they go and
bury them in some hole. and then forget
where they are, and just come and demand
more?'
II have been buying expensive packaged
nuts Il should get them wholesale) and it
kind of hurts to think that they may be
forgotten or ignored, while am importuned
to furnish more and more!
would you, please, tell me whether am
being imposed upon?
For a number Of years have been read
ing your column in The Star and have often
felt that should like to ask you some ques-
tions. You must have much love for our
four-footed and feathered friends, and q
large store of experience to be able to share
so generously with others, and I assure you
it is much appreciated.
Cordially yours" etc.
Every friend Of the wild creatures may
rest assured that very little food goes to
waste.
If the squirrel that buries food, or the
bird that hides it, does not find it, some other
specimen surely will
This comes about because of the keen COM
petition in nature for something to eat.
Mankind has been learning something
about this In recent years.
Imposing and slightly fearful books have
been written. telling of the dangers OF de-
vitalized soil, erosion, ETC., and the resulting
lack of food for millions Of people.
The ready prophets of disaster have left
no printed stone unturned to explain just
how this disaster is going to overtake us
humans unless fewer children are born and
more crops raised
have no solution. Time alone will tell.
Some declare that wars have no other pur-
pose, in nature, than to reduce the popula-
ton, so that there will be enough food for
those who are left. 1t all seems very heart
less sort of thing, but 1t has been faced by
the wild creatures for countless centuries.
The kind-hearted person who puts out
whole peanuts, and who watched the busy
jays carry them away. may feel as If his
money is being wasted, but here is what
happens:
The blue jay scufles up pile of leaves,
carefully deposits the peanut, and then
covers it over. His covering, however is not
very good and soon a squirrel comes along,
discovers the nut and eats it,
The jay also may take sundower seeds and
hide them in crevices OF tree bark and the
seed seems lost, but here is what occurs:
A busy nuthatch, circling the trunk, spies
the seed and eats it.
And so it goes.
One may feel certain that no one is being
imposed on, least of all the kind one who
puts out food for hungry creatures in the
cold.
Some nuts may be wasted, it is true, but
even some of these have chance OF growing
into great big trees some day. But the bulk
of all food put out promptly goes down the
gullet of some hungry creature. It may not
be the one who first discovered it. But what
difference does that make, except to the
over-anXious person who feels just little
bit of pride at sharing his or her hard-earned
money with the wild things? It is good
pride. Let all such be treasured. Nothing
is wasted. It all goes to do some good in
what seems very wicked world. Most OF
us feel so helpless in the face of greed
selfshness and the lust for power. But
there is one thing we can all do. and that is
try to do what little good we can as we go
along 1t may not be very imposing, it may
never win us any prizes. but there is great
deal of satisfaction in it, and the sum total.
over the years, may loom larger than you
think.