DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do you or your readers know how to get rid of squirrels in your house? — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots had some recent experience with one of the more gruesome methods of disposing of squirrels when her cat brought her a red squirrel that had been killed by what she can only describe as an oversized mousetrap. The trap had sprung and caught one of the squirrel’s front legs and its head. Fortunately, it looked as though death was fairly quick.

Since Sun Spots does not use such traps and her nearest neighbor is at least 350 yards away, it seems likely that one of them tossed the squirrel, trap and all, into the woods, where the cat found it.

Sun Spots does not recommend this trap, and it should certainly not be used outdoors because of the threat to other wildlife, such as birds, and wandering pets. If you use one inside your home, be sure and place it where it won’t harm pets or children.

Poisons are not a good option since the squirrel will most likely crawl off into a corner and die a smelly death.

The most humane method would be a live trap, such as Havahart. At havahart.com, you can buy a special squirrel trap. They have a couple models that are less than $30. You may also be able to rent one from your local humane society.

Most important, before you catch the squirrel(s), be sure and find out how they are getting into your house, so once they have been removed you can close up the entry — online sites recommend hardware cloth (wire fencing with very small openings) — and avoid a repeat performance.

MADAM SUN SPOTS: Not wanting to bother such a wonderfully busy person with such a silly question, I have not posed this one. Since you say you now have some time for research and response, I’ll now ask it.

Where in the world are the people in this country getting the recent strange pronunciations that clip the “t’s” from the middle of a word?

At first I thought it was just young people reacting to TV or movie stars, as they are so easily influenced, but I have also heard older people do it. It sounds a lot like the British ways, but they don’t clip both “t’s” when there is a double one.

Examples include “important,” now often pronounced “impor-ant” with a hesitation at the hyphen. “Button” is now “bu – on.” The Brits say “but-on”; I grew up with “but-ton.”

Perhaps it is not British influence at all? Just wondering. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots has never been addressed as “madam” before. She kind of likes it, but she doesn’t think her editors will go for changing the column.

As for your question, Sun Spots is not a linguist, but she thinks you might be hearing a version of urban street language, sometimes called Black English or Ebonics. The description of it at Wikipedia appears to match your description. If so, it may have been spread through modern music, such as hip-hop, and culture.

But the fact that you’re hearing it from older people kind of negates that possibility, although they could be imitating their children. It has also been Sun Spots’ experience that everyone is influenced by TV, not just young people.

Sun Spots has submitted an inquiry to Ask a Linguist online, but has gotten no response yet. Perhaps a reader will have some expertise on the subject and offer some assistance.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I saw your Jan. 24 column about Harlequin romances, Bibles and books galore. The Auburn Public Library has tons of romances and plenty of other books, too, for sale.

I volunteer in the basement bookroom (where we usually do big book sales twice yearly), and we’re opening the room to the public on the last Thursday evening of the month — in this case, tonight, Jan. 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Paperbacks go for 50 cents apiece, romances for less (because of volume). I’d suggest people keep an eye on the APL calendar, http://localendar.com/public/auburnpubliclibrary, or friend us on Facebook, facebook.com/auburnpubliclibrary, and watch for “flash!” sales! — Suzanne, Auburn

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