Photo by Sally King Stop 10: Abert’s squirrels are one common inhabitant of these riparian areas. Abert’s squirrels, with their tufted ears and long white tails, live in close proximity to Ponderosa pines. Although most common at higher elevations in the Ponderosa Pine Forest, the wealth of water in Riparian Zones allows these pines to grow at substantially lower elevations. Abert’s squirrels follow the pines, which provide an important food source for the squirrels. Abert's squirrels favorite food is the cones of the Ponderosa Pine. They will turn the cone slowly, much as you may rotate an ear of corn as you eat it, peeling away the cone scales to reach the meaty seeds. The squirrel also quickly consumes the new buds and inner bark of the Ponderosa. You may think this would be bad for the Ponderosa, however, Abert's also eat ectomycorrhizal fungi. A byproduct of this feeding activity spreads the spores of the fungi around. As it turns out this fungi is very beneficial to the survival of the Ponderosa and the Abert's squirrels serve a vital function in the proliferation of the fungi. The relationship between plant and animal is very interesting and complex.
Photos by Sally King |
Last updated: January 16, 2022