Nature's Solace
Celebrating Nature in the Pacific Northwest
Douglas Squirrel - Tamiasciurus douglasii
The Pacific Northwest's most adorable forest creatures have to be the small energetic Douglas squirrels. They are the ones with the big voice, letting passers-by know that this is their territory! I've been scolded many times as they anxiously watch me from the tree side or branch. Douglas squirrels are very vocal and have a wide variety of calls. The squirrels communicate with each other when disputing over territory, during courtship, and when warning of danger.
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Douglas squirrels are found in our coniferous forests, preferentially ones with old growth. The Douglas squirrel, also known as chickaree or the pine squirrel, is one of five native squirrels in the Pacific Northwest. They are rather petite, measuring only 10 to 14 inches in length, including its tail.
A sure sign that Douglas squirrels are nearby is their "middens" a pile of cone pieces. The squirrel will sit on a branch of the Douglas fir tree chewing away on the cone as if it were corn on the cob. What he's savoring is the nutritious seed. The midden is the discarded cone pieces. If you come across green fir cones on the forest floor, these were likely snipped off by the Douglas squirrel. He spends many hours caching these cones in a damp place so the seeds remain fresh for his winter's meals. Depending on the season, they also eat fungi, cambium of conifers, twigs, sap, leaves, buds, acorns and other nuts, mushrooms, fruits, and berries. From time to time, they eat arthropods, birds eggs, and nestlings.
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Douglas squirrels are monogamous. They typically have one litter of 4 - 5 kits or kittens in May - June.. They may be born in vegetative nests or in tree holes created by woodpeckers, like the one in these pictures. The young squirrels reach adult size when they are 8 or 9 months old. The are born blind and without hair and weigh less than half a pound. Their eyes will open in 26 - 36 days. The young stay in their mother’s nest until they are one-half to two-thirds the size of an adult, usually around mid-July to early August. Although the young are more independent, families remain together much of the first year. Most will reproduce the following summer.
During the day Douglas Squirrels are playful and active. as they run in and out through the trees as well as on the ground. Just like people, they don't like wandering outside when the weather is bad; they would rather sit cozy in their nests. Douglas Squirrels have summer homes and winter homes. Their nests in the summer are made of moss and small pieces of bark and twigs. In the winter they use holes in trees as nests.
Mom returning with her little one peeking out.
Collecting green grand fir cones for the winter
Gathering up the courage
Douglas fir cone squirrel "midden"and the Douglas fir cone remains eaten like "corn on the cob".
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