. The Canadian field-naturalist. 194 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 92. Figure I. Red Squirrel observations in Salmonier River valley, Newfoundland. Insert top left: study area near St. Catherine's on insular Newfoundland. Staff of the Newfoundland Wildlife Division, Department of Tourism, released four male and seven female Red Squirrels, captured from the Northern Peninsula population, at the Salmonier Wildlife Park (47° 16'N,53° I7'W) on the Avalon Peninsula in July 1974 (Minty, personal communication). There were three sightings by me and infrequent ones by other local residents during
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 194 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 92. Figure I. Red Squirrel observations in Salmonier River valley, Newfoundland. Insert top left: study area near St. Catherine's on insular Newfoundland. Staff of the Newfoundland Wildlife Division, Department of Tourism, released four male and seven female Red Squirrels, captured from the Northern Peninsula population, at the Salmonier Wildlife Park (47° 16'N,53° I7'W) on the Avalon Peninsula in July 1974 (Minty, personal communication). There were three sightings by me and infrequent ones by other local residents during the fall and winter of 1974. These were mostly restricted to sheltered valleys in the area of the confluence of the Back River and the Salmonier River (locally known as the Back River Hills, 13 km southwest of the introduction site (Figure 1). Observations in the Salmonier River valley during the fall of 1975 indicated the presence of the squirrels; however, the population density did not appear to have increased substantially during 1975 (I recorded six sightings from 16 10-km transects along Salmonier River valley). The Red Squirrel sightings increased dramatically during the fall and winter within the river valley basin. The recording of 14 sightings from the same transects during the winter of 1976-77 indicated a population of no fewer than 200 individuals, centered in the area of the confluence of the Back River and Salmonier River. These observa- tions indicate the population is spreading, at least within the confines of the boreal forest cover. Present sighting data indicate the population has a distribu- tion of some 50 km2 with sightings up to 15 km southwest of the release site. The general area of confluence of the Back River and the Salmonier River is very rich in forest growth with north-facing slopes dominated by Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) - Yellow B'\rch{Betula luted)forests with a dense ground cover of ferns (Dryopteris spinulosa), scattered mosses, and herb
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