■ September, 1945 



Brown & Yeager: Squirrels in Illinois 



523 



nois is a common practice. About 10 

 years ago, approximately 75 per cent of all 

 timbered area in the state was grazed 

 (U. S. Department of Commerce 1935), 

 and an unknown, but appreciable, per- 

 centage is burned annually, especially in 

 the south-central and southern counties. 

 Both burning and grazing are injurious to 

 timber growth as well as to the site, as 

 has been pointed out many times. 



Due to the arboreal nature of squirrels, 

 fire and grazing are not so injurious to 

 them as to ground-frequenting birds and 

 certain other wildlife. In woodlots hav- 

 ing very heavy ground cover, light grazing 

 may be of some benefit both to fox squir- 

 rels (Allen 1941, 1943) and gray squir- 

 rels (Goodrum 1940). However, graz- 

 ing of wooded land gives neither a good 

 pasture nor a good woodlot, and sound 

 land use decrees that stock be kept off 

 forested range. Very heavy grazing un- 

 doubtedly depletes the quality of squirrel 

 habitats w^herever it occurs, since it results 

 in decreased food supply through the 

 destruction of shrubs and brambles. This 

 practice, therefore, may easily result in 

 food shortage, or at least a shortage of 

 certain attractive foods, during the months 

 prior to the ripening of mast. 



Fire is actually and potentially so des- 

 tructive to Illinois woodlands that its sup- 

 pression in these areas is considered desir- 



able at all times. There is no evidence 

 pertaining to this state that fire is ever of 

 benefit in squirrel management. 



Winter Feeding. — It is only during 

 periods of heavy ice or actual food shortage 

 that winter feeding of squirrels in Illinois 

 is recommended. Snow is of little hin- 

 drance to successful foraging, since both 

 fox and gray squirrels dig readily through 

 a foot or more of snow to reach food, fig. 

 41. On the better oak-hickory range in 

 the state it is rare indeed that feeding is 

 necessary ; and, due to availability of waste 

 corn left by mechanical pickers, it is needed 

 on the extensive black prairie type only 

 during periods of heavy ice. 



If conditions warrant feeding, it is 

 recommended that ear corn, hickory nuts, 

 w^alnuts or unroasted peanuts be used. 

 Corn, because of its abundance, avail- 

 ability and attractiveness to squirrels, is 

 by far the most practical emergency food. 

 Ears may be impaled on spikes driven up- 

 right through small poles or boards ; nuts 

 may be placed in trays or hoppers in such 

 a manner as to prevent excessive scatter- 

 ing. A corn shock near the woods border 

 makes a simple and effective feeder. Feed- 

 ing operations should be centered on the 

 best squirrel range, to take advantage of 

 maximum cavity and natural food avail- 

 ability. Chapman & Baumgartner ( 1939) 

 recommended one feeding station per 25 



Fig. 41.— Squirrels are capable of digging through a foot or more of snow in finding Osage 

 orange fruits or stored nuts or acorns. 



