Kaibab and Abert's Squirrels - A Family Divided By The Immense Grand Canyon

Like most people who feed birds, East or West, sooner or later you are challenged by trying to outsmart clever squirrels. 

Such is also the case at our house in the ponderosa pine forest around Flagstaff, AZ.  But we don't really mind our squirrels too much since they are particularly attractive with a very interesting evolutionary story.

                               An Abert's squirrel feeding below our bird feeders on bird
                  seed and ponderosa pine seeds.  Note the rust colored back and large ear tassels.

        The slightly different  Kaibab squirrel found only in a small area near the Grand Canyon N. rim.
                                                                Internet Photo
    

The Kaibab squirrel (pronounced KY BAB) is an offshoot cousin of the Abert's tassel eared  squirrel.  The Abert's squirrel lives in a large habitat mostly south of the Grand Canyon ( like in my back yard!)and mostly in ponderosa pine forests. 

However, the unique  Kaibab squirrel lives exclusively in  a small area  on the high (8000 to 9000 ft) forested  Kaibab Plateau north of the Grand Canyon.  The belief is that over time the Abert's squirrel  was split apart by the formation of the Grand Canyon along with the Colorado River, and as a result they evolved slightly differently.  The Canyon now makes a huge impenetrable  barrier that keeps the squirrels from mingling. 

Kaibab squirrels are found nowhere else in the world.  Their  habitat on the Grand Canyon north rim and Kaibab Plateau was designated as a national land mark as a result.

Below is information from a website on the two squirrels.

 "Kaibab squirrels are the perfect example of what geographic isolation can to do nature. Because of the giant gap between them, these two squirrels have evolved into entirely distinct and different subspecies. They live less than 20 miles apart, but that’s by bird. In order to get from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim for any kind of family reunion, a Kaibab squirrel would have to scamper several miles down to the Canyon floor, cross a cold raging river, and travel an equal number of miles up the wall on the other side of the Canyon."

                                         More pics of our back yard Abert's squirrel friend.
                              Apparently the longer the ear tassels, the older the squirrel is.

                   Is it just me...or does it look like the little bugger is smiling for the camera!!!

     Munching on a ponderosa pine cone seed.  I have tried ponderosa seeds and they aren't half bad, but they are so small you would be hard put to survive on them.  Pinyon pine nuts are much tastier!
                            

            No matter where they reside...squirrels seem to have one   
           consistent genetic trait that has persisted  during their   
    evolution. They are very effective at raiding domestic bird
    feeders!!!  Oh well!!!