On Thu, 29 Jan 1998, Russell Rogers wrote:

> Anyway, I can rail on for days about the cross-base highway for many
> reasons....

> However, lets say that the squirrels were to use the overpass. Where would
> they go? The highway is proposed to bulldoze through the only two stands
> of suitable habitat for the squirrels.

I think Russell needs to clarify this point. There is suitable habitat for
Western Gray Squirrels strung or scattered about on both Fort Lewis and
McChord. A very important issue is the isolation of one portion of this
occupied habitat (McChord) from the rest (Fort Lewis). I am not familiar
with the two stands Russell is referring to but they must be the only
two stands that provide habitat connectivity between McChord and Fort
Lewis rather than the only two stands of habitat suitable for the squirrels.
There are other suitable stands of habitat if you look at the entirety of
these two military bases.

Kelly McAllister