Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1892 — CENTRAL PARK SQUIRRELS. [ARTICLE]

CENTRAL PARK SQUIRRELS.

The Birds’ Nests Are Few qn Account of the Gray Nutcrackers. Central Park is the great squirrel center of the country. Probably more of the little rodents are found to the square acre in this public pleas-ure-ground than in their most favorite haunts among the wild nut groves, says a writer in Harper's Weekly. Their exact number has never been accurately ascertained, but irregular attempts to take their census have resulted In the remarkable disclosure of a population running up into the thousands. Tho gray squirrel colony increases rapidly every year. Ho tame and lively do they become in early spring when hunting for food that they will often approach visitors to the park, and almost beg for food. If a nut is thrown to them, they will approach within half a dozen feet to get it, and then run away to some tree to nibble it. . During their breeding season they are very wary and shy. They seldom approach their nests directly, but run up neighboring trees, and jump from branch to branch until they hays completely bewildered those below. Their antics at such times are of great interest to all pedestrians. When the young ones are first able so run about, the Park is full of«mall families wandering over the fields in feareh of nuts. At one time the common gray squirrels were so abundant in the Eastern States that they were considered a scourge by the ‘farmers; and heavy premiums weie offered for their destruction. They destroyed grain crops as well as fruit orchards; but gunners and sportsmen have long Binoo reduced their numbers, so that It Is rarely one finds a large colony in puy woods. It is doubtful if many birds could [breed in the park owing to the presence of so many squirrels, for the rodents are passionately fond of eggs. They will not only oat tno eggs in the nests, but they will often destroy the young birds themselves, making it almost Impossible for a brood to reach maturity. Although tho park is the great resort for song-birds, it is a straugo fact that comparatively few of them nest there, although they would not be disturbed by tne people who visit the placo. It Is very probable that there is some connection between tho prcseuce of the gray squirrels in the park and the notea absence of many birds’ nests. Tho gray squirrels are in their natural haunts In this central portion of the city. Long before the pnrk was laid out, this who'e upper section of Manhattan Island was tho home and resort of the squirrels and birds. They wero then only disturbed by the hunters, but their numbers In this way were kept down. When the park was laid out, a few old couples remained iu it, and finally the city grew around tho place so that they could not retreat further north. They were then hemmed in on every side; but ns protection was exteuded to them by the Park Board their numbers rapidly increased, until to-day the oolony is about tho largest in this country. • The rodents are great additions to the park, and their presence is always to be desired. They give an interest to the scone even in midwinter, and It would be a great loss to have them sacrificed to any prejudiced notion. They do little or no domago to the trees, uud there are no fruits or gruln- fields for thorn to destroy.