THE DOUGLAS SQUIRREL
"A SAUCY LITTLE DENIZEN OF THE FORESTS"

One of the most common of the smaller animals about the Mountain is this little fellow--pictured on the cover--who always seems to be in a great hurry to get someplace yet never in so great a rush that he cannot stop to scold fiercely at the slightest provocation. A great tree climber he rapidly scales the tallest trees of the lower forests nipping the cones from the branches. It is due to his preference for Douglas Fir cones that he has received his name and he stores great quantities of them in every conceivable nook and cranny, oftentimes in the soil itself. Thus, he is responsible in a large measure for the dessimination of the Douglas Fir in this region.

The writer has on more than one occasion, as he walked along the trail, been confronted by this fellow seemingly bursting with anger. He keeps up a rapid fire scolding from a branch overhead, chattering so hard that it seems as if he would shake himself from his perch.

He can be found all over the Park from th boundary to timberline, particularly abundant in the more heavily timbered regions. About the size of a rat and of reddish brown color with any characteristic markings, the Douglas Squirrel is easily recognized from the chipmunks and ground squirrels that are often confused with him.

C. F. Brockman,
Information Ranger.

AND SPEAKING OF THE DOUGLAS SQUIRREL

He is at the present time busily engaged in the harvesting of the cones of the Amabalis and Nobile Fir which are most generally found on the branches at the very topmost portion of these trees. The Rangers at the Park Entrance a few days ago complained about the "early bird" activities of this little fellow who ushered in the day by nipping these large heavy cones which fell with a heavy thump upon the roofs of the cabins making further sleep impossible.

However, his activities served a valuable purpose in one way. A collection of the cones, foliage and other characters of identification for all the trees in the Park is being made at the present time but the prospect of climbing these huge trees in quest of the Nobile and Amabalis Fir cones was anything but inviting. The Douglas Squirrel unknowingly came to the rescue however and supplied great quantities of these cones a few days ago. As the Naturalist was driving along the road he was startled when it suddenly rained Fir cones. Bringing the car to an abrupt stop several of the largest and choicest of the lot were selected much to the indignation of the rightful owner who voiced his feelings in no uncertain terms from the vantage point of a branch far overhead.

C. F. Brockman,
Information Ranger.