All pics above ssw - click for larger images
All pics below courtesy of www.Earthlings.org

General Description - The Douglas Squirrel is approximently 10.5 - 14 inches in length (on the average), and the upper parts are reddish gray or brownish gray grading into chestnut-brown on the middle of the back. The squirrel turns grayer in winter. It has a blackish line on the sides during the summer, but it is indistinct in the winter. The Douglas Squirrel also has small ear tufts in the winter.

Breeding - This small mammal mates in early spring and has litters of usually 4-6 young in May or June, and they sometimes have a second litter. The young venture out in August and the families remain together for much of the first year.

Habitat - The Douglas Squirrel prefers to live in the coniferous forests of North America's west coast. It visits all parts of the canopy, but is found most often at the lowest level and on the ground. This squirrel is very active throughout the year, and it runs about through trees and on the ground. However, during bad storms it will remain in its nest. Its summer nest is built mostly of mosses and lichens, twigs, and shredded bark. This is a noisier one of the squirrels, and it has a large selection of calls, including the trill.

	CLETUS'S MOUNTINBILLY CHICKEREE OBSIRVAYSHUN

If'n yer out lookin' fer chickerees, whethir it be fer sport or fer photgraphy, heers a tip on gittin' in a decint shot: this skwerl has a peculiar habit whin a strangir approaches... furst, it runs up behind a tree, pokes it's hed out from behind the trunk an' stares at ye or gits on a branch an' chirps all angry-like. Have patcience! Next, the skwerlball comes all twisty down the tree goin' in loops (see the illustrayshun), like it's performin' for ye, or tormentin' ye with it's antics, an' all the time carryin' it's tail strait out in back, or, sumtimes, curled ovir it 'til it's jest about eye level with ye an' close enuff t'whup upside the hed, or kiss dependin' on what yer pleasure may be. An' heer's the tip: i seen too many folks start blastin' away to no avail or wastin' a bushel of film tryin' to get a good shot of the varmint whin it's 30 - 40 feet up. Wait 'til the critter comes back down the tree - an' it will - BEFOR doin' whatevir it is yer doin' in thet re-gard.

thanx to Earthlings.org for the use of their pics