Evening star., 1949-04-05
This and That
By Charles r. Trace,UeH

Reversing the usual situation, wherein
squirrels poster birds H. 3. of Second street
has pet squirrel which is being interfered
with by blue jays and others
Our correspondent thinks q poor squirrel
ought to be allowed to eat nuts in peace.
She writes:
I'VE feel especially responsible for this
little fellow, Bushy Buchanan, jr., named
for the public school where he was brought
last April, poor, forlorn, half starved crea-
ture >r'
He had fallen from tree and was alone.
The children fed him warm milk from q
dolls nursing bottle. and placed him in q
carton with an old wool sweater.
There he lived and thrived, fed five
tim6s daily, with an extra feeding by a
kindly custodian after school was dismissed.
He liked his night feeding.
'The children could hardly wait each
morning to get to school.
I'VE had reading lessons about his habits.
stories were written. there were original
poems and two songs. all relating to our
squirrel.
I'VE counted the cost Of his daily food.
took him for short walks In the sunshine
and enjoyed q wonderful unit Of work
about the care Of animals.
His first solid food was chopped pecans.
Later he could eat alone.
HE even had q little coat with hood
attached-the new look!
"Our plan was to set him free when he
was able to take care of himself
-Four times We took him to the wood and
bid him goodby
-Four times he was home before we were
and. may I add. each time we hoped he
would be.
He simply would not leave, and did not
like to be out Of our sight.
I'VE had learned so, much from caring
for him and had become so attached to
him and his funny tricks. He liked to hop
on all four feet at once. The children
called 1T dancing. and they loved to watch
him.
School closed in June and brought
Junior Buchanan home.
MY husband built large cage, with 4
sleeping box inside and he always had the
wool cover.
He lived in and around the house all
summer. He liked to swing himself on the
porch swing. Back and forth he would go.
bracing himself as the swing moved.
He would 60 all over the neighborhood
we were out later than usual we would find
him at the cellar door.
He always returned but one night he
was not there. How We worried and searched
the neighborhood.
Early the next morning he arrived with
another squirrel. bis mate.
I'VE welcomed them both. Nuts and fresh
water were placed on the porch. They left
and returned again in the early evening
for supper
Last fall the children in my school gath
cred a bushel OF acorns for his winter
food This has lasted, by adding peanuts
and pecans. They win eat no other food.
Saturdays and Sundays they stay on or
around the porch all day. and occasionally
enter the house.
Now the blue jays fuss with them and
snatch their peanuts.
rs there any way TO let the Jays know
they are welcome to some Of the peanuts.
but not alp"
This charming account OF the life and
love Of q squirrel shows how much good
there is in both humans and animals. II
lis too bad that too often. in this life we live,
We work up false aspects OF both humans
and animals and then spend our lives
arguing about them.
Basically, humans and animals are good.
and it Is just too bad. from every standpoint.
that so many trivial additions are allowed
to clutter up our thinking about them
We would advise our kind correspondent
not to worry too much about the Jays The
SQUIRRELS will be able 10 hold their own. and
get their fun share Of peanuts A bird In
quick. but squirrel n quicker.