PARK COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. 
5° 
THE SQUIRRELS. 
By C. A. Clark. 
Squirrels are classed with the hest known and hest loved of 
all our wild animals and four species are frequently seen through¬ 
out the Great Lynn Woods Reservation, skipping from tree to 
tree, running over the ground and along the stone walls. They 
are provident creatures, and in the fall when nuts and acorns are 
plentv they lav up a large supply in hollow trees, in the ground 
and under logs. They always lav in a large supply and generally 
store away more than enough to earn them through the season. 
They are verv playful and skip from tree to tree with the greatest 
of ease, displaying their graceful activity in every movement and 
very seldom losing their footing. All squirrels have power to 
reduce their falling speed through the air by means of their tails 
and outspread feet. They can fall from the very tallest trees 
with slight injuries. 
A great many of the oak and nut trees now standing in the 
park were planted by the squirrels. They bury more acorns and 
nuts than they can eat and many of them sprout and grow into 
large trees. Therefore, the squirrels are among the leading ani¬ 
mals in forest planting. 
When we visit parks out of town we always speak of the 
squirrels as being among the leading features and no natural park 
is complete without them. If visitors of the park do not frighten 
them, they will soon become very tame anti will take peanuts 
and nuts from the hand, but if they see any signs of danger 
they will keep their distance. 
The Lvnn Woods squirrels are very affectionate little animals 
and they do no damage whatever to the reservation, there 
being plenty of natural food and Jnesting material. Squirrels 
have been known to live from twelve to fifteen years, but seven 
years is the average age. 
