Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1910 — SQUIRRELS HURT THE CROPS [ARTICLE]

SQUIRRELS HURT THE CROPS

Maine Farmers Turn Upon Little Pets of Law and Want “Pesky Things” Exterminated. Lewiston, Me.—The State of Maine is overrun with gray squirrels, according to reports received at the office of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries and Game. Thousands of dollars worth of damage has been done to the crops and in .some places whole cornfields have been completely destroyed. Farmers are flooding the office of Chairman Brackett of the Fish and Game Commission with petitions asking for protectios. Two years ago a state law was passed making it illegal to hunt and kill gray squirrels. As a result the squirrels have multiplied rapidly and have become tame and destructive. Until the special law was passed gray .squirrels were classed as “game animals” and each fall were hunted by the gunners. The farmers who two years ago petitioned the legislature to pass a law to protect the “little pets” now have their dander up and declare they want every one of the “pesky things” killed off. In some instances the farmers have defied the law and with loaded guns have watched their cornfields from early day until late at night. The Commissioners pf Inland Fisheries anil Game have promised to do everything in their power to have the law repealed at the next session of the legislature.