Michael, There was an article in the News Tribune yesterday
about western gray squirrels and the cross-base highway
proposal in Pierce County. The freeway would bisect the last
habitat and lone population of western grays left in western
Washington, a species that was once much more
widespread. One idea that was floated by consultants was a
native vegetated overpass over the proposed freeway.

Chris Chappell, Olympia
chris.chappell at wadnr.gov

>>> Michael Brown <borealis at borealis.seanet.com>
01/27/98 02:20pm >>>
While in my car a little over an hour ago, I turned to KIRO
710, and
Dori Monson was going off about a "squirrel overpass" in his
mocking
sort of way. I don't have the details on this. Is this some sort
of
project to enhance Western Gray Squirrel habitat? Or is it
another
species that has made the news? He and callers were
suggesting that
since "squirrels" are so good at climbing across utility wires
that
maybe they should install some sort of rope grid for squirrels
to climb
across. I know Eastern Grays do this, but I figure it's not a
behavior
common to all tree squirrels. I thought about calling, or
logging into
the KIRO chat page. I took one look at the chat, and decided
there was
no point, considering the tone of the participants.
--
Michael Brown
Puyallup, WA
borealis at borealis.seanet.com