File No. 102417
Toronto, May 21st., 1935
Re Black Squirrels.
Dear Sir,
From time to time it has been indirectly brought to my attention that there is a possibility that the black squirrels have developed to such an extent that they may be deemed more or less predatory, inasmuch as I understand they will rob the birds’ nests and damage and kill the young birds.
It would be unfortunate if the numbers of these black squirrels grew to such an extent as to place the songsters and bird life at a disadvantage, and for that reason I wish you to immediately look into this situation with a view to letting me have your opinion with respect to the advisability of reducing these squirrels in numbers.
I recall some little time ago that some representative of a municipality, whose name I have forgotten, was expressing a desire to secure black squirrels for their public parks, and if it be decided to reduce the numbers of the squirrels in the Park we might be able to capture a number and let certain municipalities take them over for public park purpose.
Will you be good enough to write me at once advising me as to the circumstances and indicating in any way, shape or form the method of reducing what is evidently becoming a menace to the bird life of the Park. I shall be glad to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
In addition to the tax that they make upon bird life there is no doubt that in the young growth of trees they play their part in damaging them to the extent of eating the young buds and breaking off the tendrils that make for the growth of the tree.
I do not suppose there would be any great difficulty in ridding the Park of a certain number of these squirrels, either by trapping them alive and even distributing them around where they are more desired or destroying them by shooting them.
Yours very truly,
Deputy Minister
WCC/AS
R. A. McLaren, Esq.,
Superintendent, Rondeau Provincial Park, MORPETH, Ontario.
