The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13
TREE SQUIRRELS
MENACE FORESTS
Insignificant Rodents Threaten
Destruction of Pine Timber
by Their Appetites
DevOur the Best Seeds So That
Natural Propagation of the
Trees Is Destroyed

The tree squirrel is one Of the most
graceful animals native TO California
woods. In fact. the little fellows ap-
peal so strongly to the esthetic side of
some OF the people OF our state that
SUFFICIENT pressure was brought to bear
upon the state legislature few years
ago to cause the enactment of a law
protecting them except during a short
season each year
The number which hunter may kill
during the open season is limited to 12.
This law in operation seems TO be
working out very satisfactorily for
the squirrels. but a development, un-
expected TO those who secured its en-
actment. appears from reports made
bv the forest service rangers located
in the pine belts frthe national for
ests.
DAMAGE TO PINE FORESTS
It appears that the principal food
Of the tree squirrels in the pine coun-
try consists of pine nuts. In fact, the
number of squirrels in any given To-
ssalfty seems 10 be determined by the
quantity Of food supplied by the trees
from year to year
With the cutting of the pine timber,
both on private and government land,
The food supply is being rapidly les
sened. while the number of squirrels,
temporarily at least remains the same.
The result is that the competition for
food is so great that in certain sec
tons practically the entire crop Of
pine nuts is consumed
The great damage that results to
the forest is made apparent, and il is
understood that the future stand must
depend upon natural seeding. If there
Is no seed there can be no young trees,
and the forest viii cease to exist with
the present crop.
EAT THE BEST SEEDS
The most exasperating feature Of
the depredatons of the little animals
lies in the fact that they first consume
the seeds OF the best timber trees-the
sugar pine and the yellow pine-leav-
ing the ground to be occupied by seed
linEs Of such inferior species as cedar
and white FIR.
It is the policy Of the forest service
in its timber sales to leave seed trees
of the best species in order that the
greatest value may be obtained from
the land by growing the most valuable
timber upon it In just such situations
as this the timber squirrel is the great
est menace. for he concentrates his
efforts upon the few remaining trees
thus completely defeating one of the
objects Of the forest service. namely
the replacing Of timber trees on areas
from which they have been cut.
MAY HAVE TO MODIFY LAW
It seems almost ridiculous that The
production Of a commodity so neces-
sary to the people as a whole should
be placed in jeopardy by such an in
significant agency. and the question
very naturally arises If it is not high
time that influence should be brought
10 bear upon the law makers of oul
state to induce them TO modify the
game law in its application to th'
tree squirrels. 1t is very sure that 4
is more important for the human race
to have houses to five in than squir
rels TO look at and admire.
Since the women's clubs and variou:
kindred organizations are especially in
terested in matters pertaining to the
welfare of the state the suggestion thai
the agitation for a change originate
with them is a pertinent one. If the
women of the state have been able tC
procure the protection of some of the
groves Of big trees, il is reasonable to
suppose that their influence is poten'
enough TO secure legislation which viii
make possible the continuation of the
great Sierra forests.