Vol. 19, No. 1 
Page 2 
- Location of Sibley Study Area. 
- Location of Ford County Management Area. 
- Index from Rural Mail Carrier Census of 1973- 
- Townships selected for block seedings in 1976. 
Ecology and Management of Sguirrels C. M. Nixon, 
S. P. Havera 
Clear-cutting 35 acres of the 206-acre Truetown Study Area did not affect 
the body weights of the surviving squirrels. In fact, weights increased after 
cutting for both male and female gray squirrels. 
The clear-cut did affect the mean distance traveled between recaptures at 
Truetown. A comparison between the mean distance traveled by adult male gray 
squirrels the year prior to cutting (1970 - X = 147-9 meters, N = 54)_with the 
mean distance traveled by adult males the year after cutting (1972 - X = 220.2 
meters, N = 19) showed a significant increase in movement (P<-0.02). Female 
gray squirrels also increased their movement after the clear-cut was complete, 
although not significantly (P>0.05). We assume that the clear-cut created a 
barrier for those squirrels adjacent to the cut area and that the squirrels 
were forced to move somewhat greater distances to satisfy their needs. 
At Doanville, with clear-cuts of 9*5 and 19*5 acres, there was no significant 
difference in body weight or in the mean distance moved before and after clear- 
cutting. 
Clear-cutting virtually eliminates tree seed crops and thus drastically 
reduces the supply of foods for gray squirrels. At Truetown, production of 
squirrel foods declined 99 percent (by weight) from precut levels both 1 and 
2 years after cutting. Only gill fungi, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) 
and grapes (Vitis spp.) were produced in the clear-cut. With all denning sites 
destroyed and a much reduced food base, squirrels have little incentive to 
penetrate far into a recent clear-cut. 
At both Doanville and Truetown, gray squirrels penetrated less than 40 
meters into the clear-cuts during the spring and summer months. Squirrels may 
also be hesitant to enter clear-cuts after leaf-out because the dense vegetation 
and old logging debris make it difficult for them to avoid predators. However, 
in winter, after leaf fall, squirrels penetrate into clear-cuts considerable 
distances. At Truetown, in January, squirrels were penetrating nearly to the 
center of the cut (center =192 meters from the uncut forest). At Doanville, 
squirrels were crossing entirely through both clear-cuts (distances up to 120 
meters). Squirrels can more easily avoid predators in a clear-cut in winter, 
and the approaching breeding season often causes squirrels, particularly adult 
males, to increase their travels. 
