MCR Monthly Newsletter

What’s Hatchn’ing at Merrill Creek Reservoir with Ranger Rich

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About the Author: Richard Dansen Sr.

Rich has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in zoology and wildlife management. Rich has been with Merrill Creek Reservoir since 1995 where he teaches environmental education.

You can find Rich each weekend at the MCR visitors center talking about the wonderful wildlife and habitats of MCR. Stop by to say hi!

In writing this monthly newsletter, I hope to inform and educate readers about some of the wonderful and fascinating events going on in nature at Merrill Creek Reservoir each month. Enjoy!
– Ranger Rich

Ranger Rich

October

The fall harvest is upon us and nature provides a bounty of wild fruits and nuts (AKA “mast”) that are high in calories in the form of lipids (fats) that are so important to sustain our resident animals through the winter.

Black bears consume thousands of acorns as they bulk up for winter hibernation. Some bears may eat almost 24 hours/day!  White-tail deer, wild turkey, grouse, mice, crows, and racoons all consume the ubiquitous acorns, hickory and beech nuts (nuts are known as “hard mast”). Migrating birds briefly making a pit stop to consume seeds and dried berries (berries and fruits are known as “soft mast”) are responsible for seed dispersal throughout their migratory range.

But it is the squirrels we should be thankful for as they are “Farmers of the Fall” when it comes to “planting” nature’s bounty of seeds!

All squirrel species are placed in Family “Sciuridae” because of similarities in tooth structure for eating nuts and seeds.  All squirrels make it through the winter by burying a cache of seeds/acorns and using an acute sense of smell to relocate it, even under the snow!  When they bury acorns and pinecones and flower seeds in the meadow, they never recover them all!  So, through this process they inadvertently replant the trees and vegetation in the forests and meadows for us. THANK YOU!

There are five different kinds of squirrels in northern New Jersey that make Merrill Creek their home. Gray squirrels, red squirrels, chipmunks, flying squirrels and YES groundhogs or woodchucks are indeed squirrels.

Squirrels can be found in a variety of mixed habitats, but depending on the vegetation, some species of squirrels have preferred habitats.

Gray squirrels prefer the oak (acorns) and hickory (nuts) forests and blend in well with the gray bark of these trees for camouflage. (Note: Gray squirrels can sometimes have black fur which is just a melanic variant of the gray squirrel. White (albino) gray squirrels also can occur, but it is much rarer than the black melanic variant.

Red squirrels prefer eating pinecones seeds and camouflage well with the rust/red color of the conifer forest. (look for them in Pine, Hemlock and Fir tree stands).

Flying squirrels also inhabit Merrill Creeks forests preferring a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees along the edge where these two habitats meet. These squirrels are not often seen because they are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and prefer hollow dead trees. They glide from atop one tree to a lower tree and sort of scurrying up to the top of the next tree to start over in search of nuts fruit and insects.

Groundhogs or woodchucks are indeed squirrels, and they can climb trees!  Instead of using their claws for climbing trees they use them for digging (ground squirrel). They take advantage of the seeds, fruits, nuts and grasses found in the meadows.

Remember, Take pictures. Leave only footprints. Thank You!
                                                                                                                             Ranger Rich