University of Virginia Library

Local Squirrels Face Famine

By Fred Heblich
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

As winter closes in it looks as though
those furry little bushy-tailed inhabitants
of the Grounds will have to either leave in
search of nuttier pastures, or tighten their
belts and suffer through a season of
hunger, unless the University students
find it in their hearts to feed the hapless
squirrels.

By some odd quirk of nature the Oak
and Walnut trees in this area did not
mate, causing a shortage of acorns and walnuts -
the primary food sources fro squirrels. A Lawn
resident, who wishes to remain anonymous,
informed The Cavalier Daily that there has been
a noticeable diminution in the number of
squirrels around the Grounds lately.

James J. Murry Jr., an associate professor of
Biology, confirmed that "there was a small crop
of acorns this year." The lack of nuts (edible)
on the grounds has compelled the squirrels to
find other foods, namely flower bulbs, thereby
antagonizing the Buildings and Grounds department,
who have reportedly been trying for
years to rid the University community of these
arboreal bushy-tailed rodents.

Sympathy for the plight of the now-scrawny
little creatures is strong among lawn residents,
who suggest that measures be taken to preserve
the squirrel population now that nature's
prudery has proclaimed "Let them eat cake!"
Students are urged to feed the squirrels during
the winter to case their situation.

Experience has proven that common peanuts
are favoured by the rodents but they must
be distributed to the squirrels while still in the
shells or else birds will eat them. Also
appetizing to squirrels is peanut butter which
can be smeared in appropriate places, or left in
the jar on the windowsill.

Speculation that squirrels will flock to the
relief rolls and grow fat on student charity, or
lose their self-respect, is considered unfounded
by the squirrel sympathisers.