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Biology and Management of the Western United States Department of Biology and Management of the Agriculture Forest Service Western Gray Squirrel and Pacific Northwest Research Station General Technical Oregon White Oak Woodlands: Report PNW-GTR-348 May 1995 With Emphasis on the Puget Trough Loreen A. Ryan and Andrew B. Carey Authors LOREEN A. RYAN is a biological technician and ANDREW B. CAREY is a principal research biologist, Ecological Foundations of Biodiversity Team, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 3625 93d Avenue SW, Olympia, Washington 98512-9193. Abstract Ryan, Loreen A.; Carey, Andrew B. 1995. Biology and management of the west- ern gray squirrel and Oregon white oak woodlands: with emphasis on the Puget Trough. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-348. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 36 p. The western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus Ord, 1818) has been accorded "threatened species" status by the state of Washington. Populations are small, scattered, and declining primarily due to the loss and fragmentation of suitable habitat. Western gray squirrels are closely associated with Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana Dougl. ex Hook.) conifer communities on forest-prairie-wetland interfaces. Several other wildlife species also are closely tied to Oregon white oak woodlands. Oak woodland wildlife habitat is being reduced and fragmented by human development. Management of oak woodlands is necessary to protect ecological biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and habitat quality of existing oak woodlands. Specific management goals include maintaining large, open-form oak stands with adjacent intergrading conifers, prairies, and wet- lands; preventing habitat fragmentation; maintaining open to patchy understory devoid of invasive species such as Scot's broom; and minimizing human disturbances that could accelerate root damage to oaks. Management recommendations include re- moving overtopping Douglas-fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) except old-growth trees; thinning dense understory oak and Douglas-fir to release remaining oaks; maintaining or developing habitat corridors to link scattered oak patches; using prescribed burning to prevent dense shrub competition; and promoting oak woodland conservation and enhancement on public and private lands through information, education, and legislation. Keywords: Western gray squirrel, Sciurus griseus, Oregon white oak, Quercus garryana, management, Pacific Northwest. Contents 1 Introduction 1 Biology of the Western Gray Squirrel 1 Species Description 1 Life History 3 Activity 3 Distribution 4 Habitat 10 Home Range 11 Food Habits 13 Den Sites 13 Mortality Factors 14 Competition 15 Limiting Factors 16 Management of Western Gray Squirrel Populations 16 Monitoring and Protecting of Existing Populations 17 Habitat Management 17 Biology of Oregon White Oak 17 Species Description 18 Oak Life History 18 Oregon White Oak Distribution 19 Oak Habitats and Communities 20 Wildlife Use of Oregon White Oak Woodlands 20 Factors Influencing the Quality of Oak Woodlands 22 Threats to Oak Woodlands 24 Management of Oregon White Oak Woodlands 24 Specific Objectives for Oak Management 25 Desired Future Condition 25 Recommendations for Oak Management 29 Scientific and Common Names, and Alpha Codes of Plants 31 Scientific and Common Names of Animals 33 Acknowledgments 33 Literature Cited Introduction The western gray squirrel1 once was common in the Pacific Northwest (Bowles 1921). Recently, the state of Washington accorded the western gray squirrel "threatened species" status (RCW 77.12.020 and WAC 232-12-011) because of a decline in squirrel numbers due to loss of oak habitat, fluctuating food supplies, disease, and illegal hunting (Washington Department of Wildlife 1993). Oak woodlands are con- sidered "priority habitats" for conservation by the Washington Department of Wildlife. In 1991, State Resolution 1991-8654 authorized the state of Washington to officially declare 1991 as the "Year of the Oak." California declared 1990 as the "Year of the Oak" (Standiford 1991). To avoid further decline of the western gray squirrel and Oregon white oak woodlands, management must include the preservation and en- hancement of oak woodland habitat. In this report, we summarize information from the scientific literature on the western gray squirrel and oak woodlands, integrate that information with results from our surveys of western gray squirrels and oak stands on Fort Lewis, Military Reservation, Washington, and make management recommenda- tions for ensuring the survival of western gray squirrels and oak woodlands in the Puget Trough. Biology of the The western gray squirrel is the largest native tree squirrel in Washington. It is Western Gray silver gray with dark flanks and creamy white underparts. Adults may weigh 17.6 to Squirrel 33.4 ounces (Asserson 1974, Bamum 1975, Oilman 1986) with total body lengths (in- Species Description cluding tail) ranging from 19.7 to 23.6 inches (Barnum 1975). Foster (1992) reported body lengths (nose to base of tail) of 10.6 to 15.4 inches, and tail lengths of 9.5 to 15 inches for western gray squirrels in Oregon. She found that male body lengths (13.0 ± 0.7) were significantly greater than female body lengths (12.1 ± 0.07), but that tail lengths were similar for both sexes. There was no apparent sexual dimorphism in the small sample of Fort Lewis squirrels (table 1). The western gray squirrel resembles the eastern gray squirrel, a common squirrel of the Eastern United States that has been introduced into the range of the western gray squirrel (including the Puget Trough). The two squirrels are similar in appearance, but eastern gray squirrels are smaller, have less prominent tails, and have rufous coloration on the head, back, flanks, and underparts. The eastern and western gray squirrel differ markedly in their evolutionary relations. The eastern gray squirrel is in the subgenus Neosciurus (Hall 1981) and is related to the fox squirrel of the Eastern United States and the red squirrel of Europe. The western gray squirrel is in the sub- genus Hesperosciurus and is related to Abert's squirrel of the Rocky Mountain west and southwest (Wade and Gilbert 1940). Life History Breeding—Breeding occurs from January to September in western Washington and western Oregon (Brown 1985) and from December to July in California (Oilman 1986). In Oregon, Foster (1992) found females in estrus from January through March and again in June. Cross (1969) witnessed mating chases involving one female and two to four males. We witnessed similar behavior on Fort Lewis involving one female and six males. One male was larger and appeared more dominant than the other five males. We observed the large male mounting the female on the trunk of a large Douglas-fir tree. The female ran from the area shortly after the mounting. We then 1 Scientific names of all species are given at end of text. 1 Table 1—Size and reproductive condition of western gray squirrels collected on Fort Lewis, Washington, 1992-93 a b Squirrel no. Date Weight Measurements Sex Reproductive condition Ounces Inches 1 04/14/92 24.8 21.6-10.7-3.0-1.6 F 3 fetuses, C-R = 0.7 c 2 04/24/92 29.3 22.4-10.8-3.1-1.5 F 3 scars, lactating 3 05/06/92 28.2 23.0-10.7d F 3 fetuses (2M, 1 F) d 4 06/01/92 29.4 23.2-11.3-3.1-1.7 M T-L=1.4x0.7 5 07/01/92 12.2 19.5-9.4-2.9-1.5 M T-L = 0.4 x 0.6 6 07/22/92 23.3 22.3-11.2-3.1-1.5 M R = 0.6 x 0.3, inguinal 7 07/23/92 16.9 19.1-8.4-3.1-1.4 M Nonreprod. 8 08/04/92 20.3 21.9-9.9-2.9-1.6 M T-Re = 0.7 x 0.4 9 08/12/92 25.5 22.3-10.9-3.1-1.5 M R = 0.8 x 0.3, inguinal 10 08/21/92 17.3 22.2-11.1-2.9-1.4 M Nonreprod. 11 01/03/93 23.1 22.3-10.9-3.0-1.5 M L= 1.2x0.6 12 04/27/93 26.6 21.3-8.9-3.1-1.7 M Slightly scrotal 13 08/11/93 18.1 21.1-9.6-2.8-1.5 F Nonreprod. a Date squirrel was found. b Four measurements are total length-body length-hindfoot length-pinna (ear) length. c C-R is the average crown to rump measurement of fetuses. d Hindfoot and pinna length measurements were not taken. eT-R is the right testis, T-L is left testis. saw the five other males running and chasing each other up and down trees, showing frenzied, agonistic behavior which continued for several hours. In Oregon, pregnan- cies occur from January to March and again in August; lactation occurs in March, April, and July through October (Foster 1992). Most researchers believe that a female may produce only one litter per year. Cross (1969) followed adults for three summers and observed no late breeding and no pregnant or lactating females. Fletcher (1963) believed there were two litters per year because he found (1) mature follicles in squirrels that had previously produced litters that year and (2) a pregnant female in September with two generations of ovarian scars (corpora lutea), thereby indicating two separate ovulations. From this evidence, it seems biologically possible, but uncommon, for squirrels to produce two litters in a year. A litter of two to five young is born after 44 days gestation (Ingles 1965). The period of lactation is unknown. Adult squirrels are quiet and unobtrusive while raising young (Maser and others 1981). Young can be seen outside the nest starting in mid- March (Ingles 1947). Male sexual development—Males reach sexual maturity by 1 year of age (Asserson 1974) and may breed the winter after their birth (Fletcher 1963).
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