Subject: Re: Eastern Gray vs Douglas Squirrels. (Was Parrots
Date: Oct 10 14:46:27 1995
From: Kelly Cassidy - kelly at cqs.washington.edu



I don`t know of any studies on displacement of Douglas' Squirrels
by Eastern Gray, but I'd guess that habitat change is more
likely than competition to explain declines of Douglas and increases
of Eastern Grays.

As Dennis points out, Douglas' Squirrel lives in conifer forests
and the Eastern Gray lives largely in deciduous. Eastern Grays
have not, so far as is known, moved away from cities into the
conifers. If they were competing with Douglas' they probably
would have spread beyond cities. People tend to plant
deciduous trees, and often they plant species that occur
in the Eastern Grays' native range (the eastern US). Douglas'
squirrels persist in cities or on the outskirts of town
only when they have access to a large patch of conifer
forest.

Kelly Cassidy
Wa Coop Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Univ of Washington
Seattle, Wa 98195