COMMON MAMMALS OF WESTERN MONTANA. 



13 



Co., of Hamilton, Mont., reports that the depredations on that com- 

 pany's lands assumed a very unusual and serious nature, for the 

 squirrels attacked the buds of the trees themselves and actually 



Fig. 4. — Carrots ruined by Columbian ground squirrels. 



killed about 45.000 trees in one year. This company at once took 

 systematic steps to destroy the animals on their land, and spent over 

 $1,700 for the work in 1910 and 1911. 



Fig. 5. — Washout caused by burrow of Columbian ground squirrel. 



Ground squirrel holes are a serious menace to the safety of irri- 

 gation systems. Figure 5 shows a washout on a side hill, caused 

 l>v irrigation water escaping through a squirrel burrow from an 



484 



