The Western Gray Squirrel was in trouble, was help coming?
It was approximately thirty years this coming September when the Wrightwood area almost got a taste of the Washington DC wildlife. No, no, no...we aren't talking about politicians, even though they are dangerous enough and strangely as it seems, have something in common with this topic. We are talking about Capitol Park's red squirrels. Like any other animal in the wild kingdom, they may be seemingly cute, cuddly and apparently harmless, but the human body doesn't stand a chance if you look at them or approach them in an uncool way. Key hint to animals lovers out there, the longer that you live in the hills and see wildlife in action, the more you become a "respecter" than a "lover". It was village weekenders and animals lovers that started the whole idea of bring red squirrels from Washington DC to the Wrightwood area. In 1977, Washington DC's Capitol Park was suffering an over abundance of red squirrels that were raising havoc in the federal park and federal buildings in the area. So, over nine hundred of the pests had to be exported somewhere else. How about to Wrightwood, where the native gray squirrel was not in abundance?
Many news sources of the time covered the story, including the Los Angeles Times. It was during breakfast time that village weekends Rick and Hilka Kappen happened to read the paper. After a heart warming experience of reading about homeless red squirrels, the Kappens then happened to call Mountaineer editor Tom Pinard with a simple question, "Is there any reason why Wrightwood could not import a good number of the squirrels?"
The staff of the Mountaineer had neither an yea or a nay on the question but jumped into the situation with gusto. The district manager for then-Congressman Jim Lloyd first took their call, she then forward the call to the congressman. It only took hours for the Congressman to reply, "It's a neat idea, and we're going to move on it fast. The big question to be answered is whether the squirrels are compatible to Wrightwood and whether they could adapt." Within hours it became a plan...with possibilities of becoming reality. Sigh. if only other problems of such political magnitude can be handled so proficiently. As our honorable newspaper editor put it, "...with the blight that struck the squirrel population of Wrightwood this past year, the sooner the better as Villagers rate their squirrel watching and feeding activities high above other Village concerns."
Who knows if the animal population of our local mountains were excited about the prospect of 1,000 Washington DC red squirrels being imported to the area. But rumor had it that more coyotes were coming up from the high desert, licking their chops in anticipation for a good meal. Congressman Jim Lloyd's office talked to the naturalist at the Smithsonian Institute and other naturalists at the National Park Service and White House. The Mountaineer's coverage of the story soon hit the national media. The red squirrel subject appeared on David Brinkley's Friday night news broadcast, the Channel 7 News with Jerry Dumphy, and even a nationally syndicated wire story on the proposed move was in an Oregon paper. Meanwhile, the surviving gray squirrels in our local mountains simply yawned.
Then the word came down after one week. If Wrightwood is going to have more squirrels, the Village will have to do it without any outside help. The local coyotes disappointingly padded back home to the flats, and the local squirrels will never know how lucky they were that the plan to import out-of -state red squirrels failed. "Apparently, "reported Congressman Jim Lloyd, "Washington's squirrels are too aggressive for California." According to the California State Board of Health too many non-native species have already displaced California's native species in several areas, and the board recommended against the project.
The red squirrel is highly territorial and will vigorously defend their territory, even against predator species. With a high chatter...or call, they announced their presence to all those around, warning them to stay away, to approach will bring about aggressive encounters. They are known to literally take over their territory and strip trees and brush of their resources. Sounds like the little furry things have something in common with the other Washington DC wildlife.
As for the Wrightwood area, the saga of the red squirrel came to a close with a call from then-Congressman Jim Lloyd, "The re-population of the Wrightwood area will have to be done with friendlier natives. Maybe our more hospitable southern California climate will be a factor in repopulating our tree squirrels without outside help."
Wow...how profound. Perhaps we all can learn a lesson from the squirrel problem.
Just a smart part of history,
To complete history's picture, input is encouraged.
Terry Graham, WW
