The Collection of Lodge pole Pine Cones 35 



ply. He first goes through the branches of the tree cutting ofT 

 with his teeth the small branches, usually less than foup inches 

 long, on which mature cones are found singly or in groups. When 

 a tree is stripped of cones he works on the ground, cutting the 

 cone stalks from the branches and carrying the free cones to his 

 hiding places, hoards, or caches. Experienced collectors watch 

 the localities in which the cutting is going on and then wait until 

 the squirrel has removed the cones and stored them before collect- 

 ing. Squirrel hoards are located in depressions in the ground, 

 around roots of trees, down logs, and large boulders, and in the 

 deep humus beneath large trees where the winter's snow does 

 not drift too heavily. The cones are neatly packed in the hoard 

 and few musty ones are found. In the case of spruce cones, 

 which they also hoard, but usually only in the pure spruce type, 

 the "intelligent pine squirrel" goes one better and places the tip 

 of the cone downward in order that it may shed water and pre- 

 vent moisture from collecting beneath the cone scales. The few 

 alpine fir cones which are hoarded are usually eaten first in the 

 winter, or before the cone scales have fallen off. 



Hoards vary in size from a few cones to several bushels, 

 fourteen bushels being the largest amount ever reported occurring 

 in one hoard in this region. Squirrels seem to live in communi- 

 ties, for a series of hoards will be found on an area of from one- 

 fourth to one-half acre which appears to belong to one family, 

 while at distances of from one-eighth to one-half mile a similai 

 series of hoards will be found, evidently belonging to another 

 family. Piles of loose cone scales and stalks are usually found 

 which indicate that hoards have occurred in those particular 

 places for many years. Early collecting by squirrels after matur- 

 ity of the cones is said to indicate an early winter, which indi- 

 cations are often borne out. Late collecting is said to indicate 

 a late winter, light collecting an open winter, and heavy collect- 

 ing a severe winter with much snow. Cone collections from 

 squirrel, hoards produce the best quality of cones, and those al- 

 ways accepted by Forest officers if clean, for the squirrel hoards 

 the best to be had in every instance. 



The question of what effect the robbing of his winter food 

 supply may have upon the squirrel has often been brought up. 

 Articles have even been written upon the subject condemning the 

 practice as inhuman. The theory upon which such articles are 

 based are invariably more pretty than practical. In localities 

 where intensive cone collection has been practiced Forest officers 

 have noted, in the early spring, the appearance of the past win- 

 ter's hoards, and particularly have they noticed a lack of evi- 



