TRR photo by Scott Rando A grey squirrel carries an acorn on an oak tree in Shohola, PA. Grey squirrels can have several color variations. “Black squirrels” are melanistic (black phase) grey squirrels. The long tail is used as balance during jumping and to signal alarm when a predator or other unwanted interloper comes near.

Going nuts (or at least storing them): squirrels at work

It’s not often that you can go outdoors and travel more than a few yards and not see a squirrel. If you don’t see one, you might hear one nearby as it vocalizes in an effort to ward off a perceived threat. Another sign of a squirrel’s presence is a pile of nut shell fragments or bits of pine cones, which are usually leftovers from a squirrel snack. The main diet of squirrels is seeds and nuts, but they will also eat buds and leaves, especially in the spring. People who maintain bird feeders have devised all sorts of methods to keep squirrels from eating all the bird seed.

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SEEDS holds vigil for Copenhagen talks

HONESDALE, PA—All are invited to bring a candle to Central Park, Honesdale at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11 to join a vigil for hope during the climate change talks being held in Copenhagen. Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support (SEEDS) is holding the vigil locally, while 350.org is calling for similar events around the world.

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Bear harvest heads for record

PENNSYLVANIA—The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s preliminary bear harvest figures show that 3,036 bears were taken during the recently completed three-day season (November 23 to 25) and an additional 108 bears were harvested during the two-day archery bear harvest (November 18 and 19).

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Also in this issue:

• Coldwater conference features energy development