Go forth, rare squirrels

FORT LEWIS — The seven newest subjects in a Fort Lewis survival test hightailed it into the post’s oak woodlands Tuesday without looking back. After a night trapped in a truck bed lined with oak leaves, they fled into the wild to gather seeds, nuts and mushrooms and sleep in trees.

If they’re lucky, they’ll escape potential killers and find mates. If not, their only remains might be piles of fur and the radio transmitter collars scientists fitted to them before setting them free.

The seven are Western gray squirrels, the state’s largest native tree squirrels, extremely rare rodents whose claim to fame is that their sole remaining Western Washington stronghold could be divided by a proposed cross-base highway.

Before seven newcomers were added, biologists estimated that no more than 50 Western gray squirrels made their home on Fort Lewis grounds and adjacent areas of McChord Air Force Base.

Tuesday’s release was the first step in a five-year, $500,000 effort to enhance a squirrel population that experts say could otherwise be doomed.

The goal is to boost the population and expand the genetic diversity of a group otherwise vulnerable to disease, wildfire or other catastrophe.

Matt Vander Haegan, a state Department of Fish and Wildlife research scientist, oversees the work, also backed by Fort Lewis and largely funded by the state Department of Transportation.

Wildlife biologists working on the project said they don’t know how the project might affect the proposed highway, which would link I-5 and Spanaway.

“Gosh, that’s so wrapped up in politics,” Vander Haegen said. “We’re just trying to keep the (squirrel) population alive.”

At the Tahoma Audubon Society, whose members unsuccessfully sought a federal endangered species listing for the squirrel, executive director Bryan Flint said the state’s new effort underscores the significance of the critter and its habitat.

“It’s really significant, really pristine, and we want to keep it that way,” he said.

Western gray squirrels are larger, showier and more reclusive than their more familiar cousins, the Eastern gray squirrels commonly seen in back yards and city parks around the Puget Sound region.

Eastern gray squirrels are an invasive species and were introduced to Washington in 1925. One way to distinguish between the two is to look for the wash of brown coloring typical of Eastern gray squirrels. In contrast, Western gray squirrels are exclusively salt-and-pepper gray.

The seven set free were trapped Monday near Twisp in Okanogan County, one of two places in Washington where Western gray squirrels are still found. The other is in Klickitat County.

In 1993, state officials listed Western gray squirrels as threatened with extinction in Washington, in part because of the disappearance of the native Oregon white oak forests like the ones at Fort Lewis.

Human development has destroyed most of the old oak stands, which in the south Puget Sound area typically surround native short-grass prairies that are also vanishing.

The 86,00-acre Fort Lewis is home to 90 percent of the remaining relatively undisturbed south Sound prairies. It’s a habitat important not only to squirrels, but also to other rare creatures including butterflies (Taylor’s checkerspot and the Mardon skipper), Mazama pocket gophers and streaked horned larks, a ground-nesting bird. All also are found on post, said Mary Linders, a biologist who works at Fort Lewis to revive their dwindling populations.

While federal officials have turned down requests to protect Western gray squirrels under the Endangered Species Act, other creatures are likely candidates. And because a federal listing could limit Army training on post, Fort Lewis several years ago made a commitment to conservation, Linders said.

“Our primary focus is ecosystem management,” said David Clouse, the fort’s fish and wildlife program manager. Much of the effort has focused on Scotch broom, the invasive weed that 10 years ago dominated thousands of acres of the post’s prairies. The broom overwhelmed open spaces squirrels need and likely squeezed the remaining population, biologists said.

Besides four male and three female squirrels released Tuesday, biologists plan to add another small group next year from Klickitat County. Besides the radio collars, the newcomers’ ears are tagged with identification numbers.

A team of researchers will track the squirrels to see how they use their digs, whether they mate and reproduce, and what happens when they encounter Eastern gray squirrels, among other things.

Before Tuesday, about 20 members of the original Fort Lewis Western gray squirrel population already had been collared, along with about six Eastern gray squirrels, researchers said.

Eventually, researchers expect to learn enough about the squirrels to influence habitat management. In the meantime, if anybody needs to recapture surviving subjects, scientists know how to bait the traps.

“Whole walnuts,” Vander Haegen said. “They have a sweet tooth for walnuts.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.