Vol. 21, No. 4 
Page 3 
A better case can be made for leaving unharvested soybeans for squirrels 
even though some wild squirrels do not like them. They are more nutritious as 
a winter food than corn and are more accessible after snowfall if left unpicked. 
Food supplies for both species of squirrels are best insured through 
protection and enhancement of Illinois' existing forests. Many of the forests 
on Illinois' public lands are young, dating only from the land abandonment 
during the Great Depression. With continual protection, these forests will 
provide improved squirrel habitat. If these areas are to be logged, careful 
consideration must be given to the nedds of wildlife after any timber sale. 
In view of the continuing destruction of Illinois' privately owned forests, 
land managers must strive to insure the continued growth of forests on public 
lands. Properly managed, these forests will shelter increasing numbers of 
squirrels in future years, without recourse to supplemental winter feeding. 
Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipulation R. L. Westemeier, 
D. R. Vance 
The prairie chicken population on the Bogota Study Area was censused in 
the spring of 1978 for the 16th consecutive year. As in past springs, booming 
ground surveys were conducted along with supplementary observations made by 
visitors in blinds almost daily from 25 March through 23 April. 
Counts made this spring (1978) yielded a total of 74 cocks, essentially 
unchanged from the count in 1977 (75 cocks). As previously noted (MWRL 18(9):4), 
success of the hatch must be about 50 percent to maintain a stable population. 
The 59 percent rate of success of nests last summer led to the prediction of 
population stability for this spring (MWRL 20(8):3). 
Although the population is unchanged from last year, the distribution of 
prairie chickens at Bogota has changed. This year 78 percent of the population 
was found on the Yeatter, Field, and McGraw sanctuaries, only 23 percent of 
the total sanctuary acreage. The booming ground on the Donnelley Sanctuary 
declined from its usual 20-30 cocks to only 9 cocks this spring. The persistence 
of severe winter weather this year may not have allowed sufficient time for 
the usual spring dispersal. The major wintering flock of prairie chickens 
centered on the Yeatter-Field-McGraw unit. 
The extended winter apparently also affected the breeding cycle. Hens 
first appeared on the booming grounds about 1 week later than normal this 
spring. The first mating was observed on 7 April this spring and on 20 March 
in 1977* However, the peak of matings occurred on 11 April this spring, about 
5 days later than usual. 
