8 - Sunday, December 25, 1988 — Lynn Valley Echo

‘EVER YONE’S FAVORITE MAMMAL’

Keep a watch out for local squirrel species

SQUIRRELS ARE. almost everyone’s favorite mammal:
they’re easy to see and feec-while also being cute to look at.
We have:three species of squirrels in tynn Valley, but not

all of them are easily seen.

The Northern Flying Squirrel, 18
inches from head to tail, is a noc-
turnal species which begins its
feeding activities at dusk. A very

. sociable animal, several adults will
feed, play and den-up together in a
tree cavity or old woodpecker hole
in winter, .

The flying is done with the aid
of flaps of skin attached to the

front and rear legs. When spread.
out, these flaps permit the squirrel 2

to glide in the air.

This species likes old broad-leaf

maple trees which often have cavi-
ties and holes in them. Like all
squirrels, it has a wide range of
food items ranging from berries,
nuts, fruits, mushrooms, seeds and
buds to insects, birds and eggs.
_ «Due to its night-life existence,
the flying squirrel is not often seen
by. people, but if you live in a
well-wooded: area and feed birds,
keep a watch around dusk for this
species at your feeding table.

The most common squirrel
around our: homes: is the: Gray
Squirrel (often black in color)
which was introduced into Stanley
Park in 1914, *

‘across Burrard Inlet and are now

acorns or a butternut a good crop

habitat for.these citizens of the
eastern hardwood forest.
~ Cats think twice about taking on

this large species. and I: have.

‘witnessed a°cat and Gray squirrel

-. nese to’ nose:on a fence. Both

backed ‘off. with some loss of
di

en, impact ‘of: this introduced
squirrel {on the local : ecological
systems will be an interesting field
experiment to, watch. | Will they
move into the coniferous forest
areas? - Will: they push out: our
native - Douglas .. squirrel? |; What

impact. will they have on nesting .

song birds? (they like eggs . and
_ chicks). Will we see an increase in
_ owls which hunt the = species?

‘

common in most suburban areas -
of the North Shore. They are large ,
(19 inches total length, the tail nine *
inches) with a bushy tail and they :

When an oak has a good crop of ;

of small walnuts, up to 20 or more °

shrubs and ‘trees, provides ideal “|

As we have created an artificial

mixed woodland habitat around
our homes, the whole ecological
system is in a state of change.
‘: The small native species of
squirrel, the Douglas, is very much
a creature of Douglas fir, hemlock
and cedar forests. If you live in or
close by such forest, then you will
' see this species.

Often mistaken for a chipmunk,
‘the Douglas squirrel does not. like
‘other of its kind entering its ter-
titory. Being very territorial it also
gets upset when the tanger Grays
enter its arca.

One of the most colorful of Ca-
nadian squirrels, its bright orange
underparts and dark brown upper
parts make jt an enjoyable little
creature to observe.

Most of its time is spent getting
food. The seeds from the cones of
Douglas fir, hemlock, cedar, and
spruce are subsistence food, while
maple keys, hazelnuts,
berries, insects, songbirds’ eggs
and nestlings, and food from bird
feeding tables help them put on
weight.

Life is short and full of danger
for all these squirrels. Domestic
cats, hawk and owl species, and
martins all enjoy a meal of squir-
rel. The larger Gray will make
many cats back down from an at-
tack, but as it lives in suburban
areas, cars kill quite a few.

All species are active throughout
the winter. They do not hibernate
but den-up during bad weather.

0 you like the ‘convenience of having
shops and services close to where you
: live? Give local: business a boost by
looking over the advertisemenis in this paper to
see what. values can benefit you, and by.
patronizing those b businesses located right in your

NORTHERN
_ FLYING SQUIRREL

By Debbie Duncan

acorns, .

The difference in size between
the native Douglas and introduced
Gray demonstrates the influence of
environment on a group of mam-
mals, The Grays have lived for
thousands of years in the rich
deciduous forests of eastern North
America. Food supply is much
better in the deciduous forests,

while the seeds of coniferous trees
do not provide as much nutrition.
This has resulted in small species
of squirrels in our focest.

If you want to know more about
the three types of squirrels that live
in Lynn Valley, call the Lynn
canyon Ecology Centre at 987-

Happy Holidays

from all of us

(mm)

eg A EY ;

ay

Alon the staff aud manage

ment at the Tyanwood Kan |

We wish you the very
\ best of the Holiday Season ,

JOIN ead

~in the

om reins eve

BNO COVER CHARGE —

“Main & Mountain Hwy. NV,

988-6161