Wrightwood squirrels make a comeback

[Wrightwood]

It sure seems like Wrightwood's squirrel population has exploded in the past few years.

This one seemed to want it's picture taken near the woodpile.

[RobertW]

I remember when the "plague" nearly wiped them all out.  It has taken many years for them to make the comeback they have.

Has anyone seen an albino squirrel of late?  I remember in the late 60's there were actually two of them that frequented our area.  I have an old photo of one of them, but it isn't very clear.

I've always liked the look of the gray squirrel with the bushy tails.  In Burbank we have a lot of squirrels but they are red squirrels and they don't have the nice bushy tails that the Wrightwood squirrels have.

[Mountain_Witch]

What a ham.
I heard that story about the plague too. But it's great to see the Grays making a comeback. On a good day I'll get 6-7 of them fighting over my peanut feeder. Sounds like WW1 bombing the house at times as they chase each other across the roof.

That would be kewl to see an albino. The only odd one I have around is one I call rat as most his fur is missing from his tail. I thought maybe mange but it's not affecting anywhere else on him.

Anyhoot, just watch out. They love to chew on anything made out of redwood to use for nesting material. They also love pillow stuffing. I left a pillow out once and they gutted it. I didn't know whether to get mad or laugh. It was a hilarious site watching them do it.

[zelicaon]

I would like to read more stories / observations about western gray squirrels, California ground squirrels, Merriam's chipmunks and lodgepole chipmunks.

When do you see them? What time of day? What time of year? Do they hibernate? Estivate?
What are they doing? Climbing trees? Chasing each other? Digging holes?
What do they eat? Do they drink water? How abundant are they?
Do you find them at different elevations? Different habitats, that is, slopes without much vegetation, or in pine forests?

For example, I usually see the Merriam's chipmunk crossing roads and around campgrounds. They used to run up and down the forty stairs it took to reach the bird feeding trays atop of the S. Mt. Hawkins fire lookout. They seemed to fly down, they went so fast, seemingly never touching the stairs. But I never saw them at Vetter Mt. fire lookout. Vetter only has three stairs to reach the deck.

Whereas I see the lodgepole chipmunk scurrying across down logs and in the manzanita bushes in Dawson Saddle / Baden-Powell /Throop Peak area. The lodgepole has more distinct stripes on its back then the Merriam's.

[Mountinbear]

[zelicaon]

Dear Mountinbear,

Much as I appreciate your reponse, I am looking for information specific to Wrightwood and the San Gabriel Mountains from Soledad Canyon east.

Most often the San Gabriels are neglected in the literature or lumped together with the Sierras and the information provided is confusing, distorted or just flat out wrong. An example of confusion among different sources is whether or not the California ground squirrel hibernates or estivates and when in the higher elevations. Another example where the literature is unclear is the color differences between the chipmunks.

I want very much to encourage accurate observations about the SGM being posted for the world to know just how special they are.

PS: I've put the question about chipmunks to the forest biologist who couldn't care less because it is not an endangered or threatened species. I was referred to a professor at CalPoly who studies these things but was on leave at the time.

The observations of year-rounders like Mountain Witch and Wrightwood who are very articulate about what they see are infinitely more valuable.

Did anyone notice how the population of ground squirrels exploded at Lighning Ridge after the Narrows fire in '98? There is a slope that became an absolute maze of burrows. Sometimes unusual plants grow at the mouth of these holes. But now the area has changed to being covered with bitter cherry. Lots and lots of it. Where did the ground squirrels go?

[Mountain_Witch]

I would like to read more stories / observations about western gray squirrels, California ground squirrels, Merriam's chipmunks and lodgepole chipmunks.

Well, I guess I'm going to have to start being just a little more observant with the chipmunks. I never knew that there were two different ones hanging around in these parts. In fact, I always just considered the lighter colored ones to be immature or something.

I just love this forum. [smiley=love.gif]
The information and observations from others is always so educational and a great way to learn about where you live.

Back to the chipmunks. I always luv the way the switch their little tails around like a mischievous cat. Or the way they whistle during certain times of the year. Their little cheeks puff up with each little whistle.
Since the season has been changing, the little guys have been few and far between. The last couple weeks I've only seen them out sunning themselves on a rock during the warmest times of the day. I've never seen them running around in the dead of winter, although with as much food as those little guys hoard away the rest the year I wouldn't think they would be sleeping all the time.

[RobertW]

Here is a picture of one of the albino squirrels.

As I mentioned, the picture is not very good.  It was taken in 1963.  Those that were around in Wrightwood 40 years ago will remember the albino squirrels.  They were the town mascots.

[zelicaon]

RobertW: That is one HUGE looking squirrel! Thanks for the post.

Mountain Witch wrote: "I never knew that there were two different ones [chipmunks] hanging around in these parts. In fact, I always just considered the lighter colored ones to be immature or something."

I don't know if the stripes change on chipmunks as they mature. Maybe someone else can help us out with this?

But here are the descriptions [from National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals] of the different striping on adult chipmunks:

#1 Lodgepole: "brown above with distinct stripes; median dark back stripes black, but outer ones brown or often missing; outer pale stripe bright white and broader than inner white stripes"; the form in the Baden-Powell area

#2 Merriam's: "grayish brown above; stripes indistinct, nearly equal in width; dark stripes gray or brown, usually not black; pale stripes grayish"; the common chaparral form

#3 A form of Merriam's found in the San Bernardinos, such as around Big Bear Lake, "is paler in summer with the dark stripes on its back more reddish".

Wrightwood is between all these locations, so I wonder what form it is you have there?

[Little_Fox]

Awww! he's so fluffy!! ;__; *chews on the squirrely rabidly*
heh...I swear, the little squirrels in our neighborhood are some sort of squirrel mafia out to get the humans. o_O; They play chicken with the cars...they play chicken with the bikes, they play chicken with the dogs. x.x They're all out to prove how big n' bad squirrels really are. ;p
SquirrelFace - He's lean, he's mean, he's only 8 inches tall. Coming soon to a theater near you.

-Little Fox, who loves dem squirrelies! *squeak*

[Mountain_Witch]

Just curious.

Does anyone know if catnip has the same affect on squirrels as it does cats?
[smiley=wink3.gif]

[headchat]

Ya know, I don't know but I do grow a huge catnip plant.  My cats love it when it's tender and fresh but when it gets large and unwieldy they ignore it.

I've never seen a squirrel come anywhere near it.  I suspect it stinks.   (At least to me it stinks.)

[Wrightwood]

Mother nature provides camouflage that is sometimes
overlooked until you capture it in a photo.

[naturalist]

[Mountain_Witch]

[Stitches]

Was the name of the skunk Pepe Le Peu???  

[Wrightwood]

This Squirrel found the peanuts near the suet feeder
and decided to make a feast.
If you look close in the eyes you'll see the house
and clouds in the sky. No trick photography.  

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

[ChrisLynnet]

Your pictures are so wonderful. Do you do nature photography professionally?