Letters

FEELING SQUIRRELLY

Dear Editor,
Regarding “Myths & Realities of the Mysterious Black Squirrel” (CW, Summer ’05), I thought you might be interested that in 1985 my family traveled to Ontario, Canada, where we saw LOTS of black squirrels. They were so common there that we bought a little figurine of a black squirrel in a tourist shop, as a souvenir of our trip. We were told by the Ontario locals that black squirrels were indigenous to that part of Canada. We assumed, when we started seeing them in Chicago, that they were a break off of that group from Canada. We started seeing them on the north side of Chicago shortly after our trip.

Mary Carroll
Chicago, IL

Editor’s note: Generally, the farther north one goes, the more prevalent black squirrels become. Dark fur absorbs more heat, and researchers think this may give black squirrels an advantage in colder climes.

Dear Editor,
I didn’t know what a black squirrel was until I read your online article. We are in the south suburban area of Frankfort.

Pat Kurz
Frankfort, IL

Editor’s note: Thanks for submitting the photo shown here, Pat!

UTILITY SAVINGS

Dear Editors,
Your praise of ComEd in “Power Plants” (CW, Summer ’05) is well deserved.

I can personally attest to their strong environmental ethic and cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For several years, common terns (an Illinois Endangered Species) nested only at the fly ash ponds in back of the Waukegan coal power plant. Company officials were always ready to do whatever was necessary to protect them, including construction of specialized fenced and predator-guarded compounds. The terns successfully produced fledglings. Subsequently, peregrine falcons, a former endangered bird, took up residence at this same Waukegan plant so the terns wisely decided to use some safer real estate a little farther south (at Great Lakes Naval Training Center).

Donnie Dann
Highland Park, IL

THRILLED TO RETURN

Dear Editor,
I was a naturalist with the Cook County Forest Preserve District in the 1970s, then moved to Seattle. However, family ties keep me coming back to Chicagoland on a regular basis.

I am absolutely thrilled by the existence of the Chicago Wilderness alliance and by your beautiful magazine. I always try to see at least one of your recommended “Into the Wild” locations whenever I visit my hometown.

Your spring issue featured Thatcher Woods, which I was able to explore in June, south of Chicago Avenue. It is indeed a beautiful and biologically diverse area. We spotted a black-crowned night-heron on a log over the Des Plaines River.

I had forgotten how common poison ivy is in the riparian woodland, a plant I seldom see in Washington (can’t say I miss it). Not only does it carpet the ground locally, at Thatcher Woods, but there are many good-sized woody vines on tree trunks as well. I guess this is no surprise to locals, but it sure got my attention. This is surely one of those plants you want to learn to recognize and avoid (trust me). Thanks for the clear description of the area, and an enjoyable field trip.

Arn Slettebak
Seattle, WA