VERY SQUIRRELLY PROBLEM IN LAFAYETTE PARK

Everyone knows Lafayette Park, across from the White House, is a wonderful attraction for tourists and a venue for protesters. But who knew squirrels were trying to take over?

National Wildlife magazine reported recently that up to 150 gray squirrels were crammed in the 7 1/2-acre park a few years ago, prompting worry among environmentalists.

"From a wildlife perspective, you could see that so many animals in a small place was a loaded bomb," Park Service urban wildlife specialist John Hadidian said. The situation got scary in 1977 when the squirrels ate 2,000 geraniums in sight of the president's bedroom.

Can't have that, of course. But what to do? The experts said put the excess rodents to death, which shows what they know about politics.

In the end, the Park Service trapped and transplanted 78 squirrels. Meantime, squirrel lovers were discouraged from feeding the remaining ones peanuts and popcorn. Now the squirrel population reportedly is stabilized at about 30.

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