While the overall percent of white squirrels (21.6%) was only slightly less than last year (24.6%), there were some dramatic shifts in some parts of town.  For example, this year's highest percent of the white form was 65.6% near McCrary Acres just North of Brevard Elementary.  One of last year's hot spots between Wilson Drive and the Greenville Highway dropped from 41.3% white to zero.  Meanwhile, the downtown section behind the Post Office remained one of the highest at 43.6%.  Remember that the count is not a census but only an estimate of the percent of white versus gray forms active the three mornings of the count.   Another interesting result was that we observed half as many squirrels as last year.  This year's count was scheduled a couple weeks earlier to avoid conflict with the time change.   With less leaf fall, visibility in trees was reduced.  A foggy, cool spell arrived just before the count began and ended shortly after it was completed.  To see if either of these factors could account for the reduced numbers, volunteers have been conducting random spot checks throughout late October and November.  It appears that the reduced squirrel numbers are real.  Last year's crop of nuts was poor and probably accounts for much of the effect.  This year, however, has been a mast year for acorns and hopefully large winter and summer litters will return the squirrel population to previous levels.
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