Vol . 15, No. 11 
Page 2 
acre in I 963 also). Over the past 10 years, production on seeded plots has 
ranged from 0.5 nest per acre in 1967 to the 1.1 nests per acre in 1963 and 
1972. Average for the 10 years is 0.8 nest per acre. 
Production on managed control plots in 1972 was 0.5 nest per acre, 
compared with 0.7 nest per acre in 1971* Since 1963 , successful nest production 
on managed control plots has varied from 0.3 nest per acre in 1964 to the 0.7 
nest per acre in 1971* 
Since I 963 , 142 nests have hatched on seeded plots, compared with 89 nests 
on managed control plots. 
Ecology and Management of Squirrels C. M. Nixon, 
R. E. Greenberg 
One aspect of the squirrel project deals with a survey of the distribution 
and abundance of gray squirrels over the state. As part of this job, we 
conducted a post card survey of 108 community parks throughout Illinois, 
asking whether gray, fox, or both species of squirrels were present in these 
parks. Usable returns have been received from 66 parks (6l.l percent), most 
of them in the Northern Conservation Zone. 
Statewide, both gray and fox squirrels were reported from 38 communities. 
Nine communities (8 from the Chicago area) reported gray squirrels only, and 
17 communities reported fox squirrels only. Two communities, both in Cook 
County, reported no squirrels in their parks. 
The Northern Conservation Zone was heavily represented with 60 of the 
66 returns. Both gray and fox squirrels were reported from 36 communities 
in this zone. Only gray squirrels were reported by 8 communities, and 14 
towns reported only fox squirrels. 
Six returns were received from the Southern Conservation Zone, indicating 
two towns with both species, one with only gray squirrels, and three with only 
fox squirrels. 
Black squirrels, a melanistic color phase of the common gray squirrel, 
were reported by 10 communities, mostly along the shoreline of Lake Michigan 
north of Chicago. Black squirrels were also reported from Rock Island and 
Quincy on the Mississippi. Normal gray squirrels were reported by all 10 of 
these communities, and 7 of the 10 communities also reported fox squirrels. 
Responses of Bobwhites to Habitat Manipulation J. A. Ellis 
Censuses of quail were made on the Dale and Forbes areas in late October 
and early November to obtain estimates of the prehunt densities. Thirty-five 
coveys, 555 quail (22.8 quail per 100 acres) were observed on Forbes. The 
prehunt estimate for Forbes in 1972 was 40 percent greater than was recorded 
6 in 1971, was 14 percent greater than the long-term mean for prehunt estimates, 
and represented an increase of 268 percent from the estimated prebreeding 
population in 1972. 
