Subject: [Tweeters] Fox Squirrels in Washington
Date: Nov 5 19:22:59 2004
From: mike denny - m.denny at charter.net


Hello All,
The Eastern Fox Squirrel as a species was first introduced into the Walla
Walla Valley by the then head of the Walla Walla Parks Department in1964.
This gentleman brought 12 of these pesky rodents to Pioneer Park after
seeing this rodent species running around in the parks of Philadelphia, PA.
He thought that our area would look great with these introduced bushy tailed
rats inhabiting our city parks.
Today; this rodent can be found in all the towns along the Northwestern face
of the Blue Mountains, from Pomeroy, WA south to Ukiah, Oregon. The species
has invaded every drainage up into the Western face of the Blue Mountains up
to 2200'and south into most of the orchards around Milton-Freewater and
Weston, Oregon, where they cause some spring damage to the new apple buds.
They build dreys for the winter where there are few cavities to inhabit. We
placed 24 Screech Owl boxes in Walla Walla and College Place only to have
most taken by these rats, except in the Fort Walla Walla Natural Area where
Great Horned Owls thin out their numbers. The urban population of Red-tailed
Hawks has learned to hunt these rodents with good success. We have also
learned that they cannot swim or submerge well. These rodents do devour
birds nests with young and eggs. They are also hard on our native Red Tree
Squirrels that use to inhabit portions of many of the forested drainages
coming down into Walla Walla. This is an animal that needs population
controls placed on it as it has exploded in numbers and seems intent on
working its way higher into the Blue Mountains. In concert with European
Starlings this species has occupied most large cavities and has closed many
parts of Walla Walla to native cavity nesting species of birds and
rodents. Huge numbers of folks are excited to see these rats in their yards
as they think they are watching nature in action, but the truth of the
matter is they are watching a species that is decimating our native birds
and hammering the food base that many native species depend on for winter
survival.
Later Mike
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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
1354 S. E. Central Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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