several obvious reasons for this change. The most importabt 
 
cause is the reduction of forest cover. An increase in the 
 
number of sportsmen and the high prices for furs has also played 
 
an important part. About 1900 there was about one or two 
 
acres of land per squirrel and a few less cottontails. At the 
 
present time the numbers have been reduced to less than one 
 
fourth of this. The numbers are a little larger at tae present 
 
time than they were about 15 years ago. This is due partly to 
 
game laws and partlj to the rejuvenation of the remaining 
 
woodlots. The number of raccoon was reduced considerably when 
 
the large timber was cut. The high value of the fur also 
 
helped th reduce the numbers to about four or five on the 
 
entire area. At the present time the numbers are increasing 
 
again Which is due chiefly to the game laws but also to the 
 
increase in hollow trees and to planting of species in the area. 
 
In the spring of 1939 a farmer found five raccoon in a hollow 
 
tree. Three of these were of common native stock but the other 
 
two were decencdents of a pair of black raccoon liberated in a 
 
neighboring woodlot several years ago. Field mice and gophers 
 
have increased in numbers as the forest was reduced. This is 
 
perhaps the reason why the hawks and owls have not been reduced 
 
in numbers like moot of the other birds. The number of wood- 
 
cocks has been reduced somewhat although there never were very 
 
many in this area. 
 
          One of the farmers who lived in the area for the past 
 
fifty years was impressed by the great reduction in the amounts 
 
of acorns and nuts during the past thirty years or more. He 
 
believed this was partly the cause of the reduced squirrel 
 
population and he is perhaps right. The chief interest of the