532 



Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 



Vol. 23, Art. 5 



when a large percentage of the food trees 

 are removed, may improve the range as 

 squirrel habitat by breaking up solid 

 stands and promoting shrub, vine and 

 bramble growth in the openings. Only 

 a few hickories, elms or mulberries, in ad- 

 dition to oaks, beech or maples, are needed 

 in a stand to provide all necessary squirrel 

 food. Development of fencerows and 

 hedgerows greatly improves fox squirrel 

 range on the prairie. Den boxes are need- 

 ed only where cavity shortage actually 

 exists. Winter feeding is unnecessary 

 except during periods of crusted snow, 

 heavy ice or actual food shortage. 



35. The Illinois squirrel hunting 

 season is traditionally long and is early in 

 starting; in the past it has usually opened 

 in midsummer and continued 75 days or 



more. Such a season may result in a cal- 

 culated loss of 31.8 unborn and suckling 

 squirrels for each 100 squirrels bagged, 

 or a total yearly loss of approximately 

 465,000 unborn and suckling squirrels 

 (hunters' kill, 1942, used as a basis). 



36. The squirrel hunting season re- 

 commended for Illinois is September 15 

 to November 15 in the northern and 

 central zones, and September 1 to October 

 31 in the southern zone. This season will 

 not prevent all loss in unborn and nursing 

 squirrels, but will materially reduce the 

 losses now occurring. Recent severe de- 

 pletion of the habitat, due to heavy cutting 

 to meet war needs, is an added reason for 

 a hunting season based upon serious con- 

 sideration of the life history of the 

 animals. 





