The Coconino sun., 1926-03-12
INTERESTING STUDY OF
SQUIRRELS AIT CANYON


squirrel or Sciurus kaibabensis, and
his near relative the Albert squirrel or
Sciurus aberti. These two species
seem fittingly placed by nature in the
forested areas of northern Arizona
where they animate the heart Of the
nature lover.
These are the only American squir-
rels with CONSPICUOUS ear tufts. The
home of both is almost entirely inn
tied to the high plateau pine-forested
region where the altitude ranges from
six to nine thousand five hundred
feet. Both species are characterized
j by their grace, beauty, conspicuous
ear tufts, aand broad and feathery
tails. Both give vent to their feelings
/ III the same manner by uttering q
chucking, barking call when an OBJ
ject that meets their disapproval hap
pens near their abode These two
species Of squirrel assume the atti-
tude of the flying squirrel when leap
ing from branch TO branch. They
spread out their limbs and tail to the
utmost particularly when they de-
scond from high branch to the
ground During q storm the squirrel
seeks his nest for shelter where he
remains until the inclement weather
lis over. They are about equal TO a
/ large gray squirrel in weight although
1 they are somewhat shorter and dis
tinctly more heavily proportioned.
Originally considered to be of the
same specie, the powerful factor of
isolation has brought about radical
/ changes in the marking of the two
species. The Albert squirrel is charac-
terized by his gray tail, the doWny
white markings on the underparts,
the broad reddish-brown stripe along
his back, and his gray sides. The
( Kaibab squirrel whose environment
/ is entirely limited to an island-hke
pine-forested area on the north lIm
4 of the Grand Canyon is even more
beautiful than his cousin. His tail IS
| a feathery white with the underparts
appearing almost solid black. The
( Albert squirrel and his several sub
species have more extensive range.
Their distribution ranges from north
ern Colorado, south through New
4 Mexico, Arizona, Chihuahua and Du-
range The typical Albert squirrel
lives along the south rim of the Grand
/ CANYON less than Is miles away from
the Kaibab squirrel.
The two species live under prac-
tically the same conditions as to food
and vegetation. Both store their
food and build their nests in the same
manner. The nests are generally
confined to a high crotch in pine
tree although not infrequently they
resolve on a knot hole or hollow log
as the logical place to bring forth
their young. Their bulky nests are
generally made of leaves, twigs, and.
pine needles, lined with shredded bark.
It is fascinating to watch their sour
rying and industrious antics IN tearing
off the stringy bark Of the Utah
juniper with which they line their
nests. They raise one and sometimes
two litters in a single season. The
young numbering three to five with
four as a fair average appear to be
born at varying intervals from April
to November. Occasionally the young
are transferred to new home. This
frequently happens especially if they
are molested in their old nest. When
this occurs it is amusing to watch
them carry the young by the nape OF
/ the neck in much the same manner as
q cat carries her kittens. The off
spring assumes very doclle anu
obedient attitude while being trans
ferred by the parent.
The Albert squirrel is fast becoming
noted beggar near Grand Canyon
park Headquarters. He eats the nuts
offered him from the hand of the
tourist and then scampers up a tree
to await the coming of another
s'hand out" Their principal food sup
ply is furnished by the seeds and the
tender bark from the small tips of
branches of western yellow pine. In
eating they sit erect holding the food
in their fore paws. They CONCEAL
/ cleverlv from their enemies their
winters hoard Of food. The amount
| of food stored away is often used as
criterion by the pioneer as a fore
cast of the character for the ensuing
winter. 80
Competition for possession of GER
/ tain trees during spring and summer
/ is very keen between the squirrels and
/ robins. The squirrels hold sway dur
/ ing the spring and the robins fly at
I their approach. After nesting season
1 is started, however, the CaDles are
turned Now the robin evidently en-
dowed with the parental and self
( preservation instincts more than holds
/ its own; for the squirrel is quickly
put to flight when it approaches the
i forbidden tree.
Isolation Of the Kaibab squirrel by
the cutting of the Grand Canyon on
the one side and by deserts on the
other three sides, tends to curtail any
8 great increase Of the specie. Their
numbers were thinned somewhat IN
the early days by the Piute Indians
who desired both their meat and pelt.
Now they are practically protected
from the hunter. Their chief enemy
at present is the hawk. The park IS
ordinarily sanctuary for all wild
life, however, when one form tends to
prey upon another to the point OF
determination, it is necessary to re-
duce the numbers of the preying
specie. Hawks have been seen to
swoop down and carry off both kal-
bab anu Alert squirrels although
some authorities still maintain that
hawks do not kill squirrels. Both
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