. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. Fig. 27.—Osage orange fruits provide food for fox squirrels from late summer through the winter. Cobs under the tree indicate extensive use of corn from an adjoining field. and June, mulberries apparently rank first; and, during the early summer, corn in the milk stage is probably highest in palatability rating, at least for fox squir- rels. Because of the well-known adaptability of fox squirrels to open timber and agri- cultural habitats, this species makes greater use of farm crops than gray squirrels. Of farm-crop foods, corn is of outstanding i
. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. Fig. 27.—Osage orange fruits provide food for fox squirrels from late summer through the winter. Cobs under the tree indicate extensive use of corn from an adjoining field. and June, mulberries apparently rank first; and, during the early summer, corn in the milk stage is probably highest in palatability rating, at least for fox squir- rels. Because of the well-known adaptability of fox squirrels to open timber and agri- cultural habitats, this species makes greater use of farm crops than gray squirrels. Of farm-crop foods, corn is of outstanding importance, but wheat, soybeans, oats, apples and other crops are popular. Field crops adjoining woodlots or other timbered areas are used more than those in fields some distance from such areas. Corn is the only cultivated crop used to any con- siderable extent by gray squirrels in Illi- nois, and this only where fields adjoin woodland suitable to their requirements. Isolated nut trees, hazel clumps or bramble patches are ordinarily monopolized by fox squirrels. Failure of any important mast species tends to hasten and increase the use of the species that produce. In 1941, the hick- ory nut crop was heavy over much of Illinois. Squirrels in the central zone began to use the nuts by mid August, and black walnuts were left untouched until early September. In 1942, hickory mast was scarce in many localities. The small supply was soon exhausted, and in August the squirrels shifted to walnuts, which were still green. Squirrels inhabiting areas short of summer foods, of which heavily grazed woodland is probably the best Illinois example, are often driven to use immature acorns. In the black oak stands in Mason and Cass counties, where the ground cover is mainly grasses, seed- lings and second-growth sprouts, immature acorns were taken by the fox squirrels resi- dent there as early as July 15. Fox squirrels were found to be more tolerant of limited variety in diet than gray squirrel
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