OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — An Olympia tree expert blames squirrels for the demise of some oak trees in the south Puget Sound area.
Ray Gleason of Cascade Tree Experts told The Olympian nonnative eastern gray squirrels strip the bark off branches in search of gall wasp larvae to eat.
The squirrels are doing enough damage to threaten the health of Garry oak trees, also known as Oregon white oaks.
The trees range from British Columbia to northern California, but they prairie habitat they prefer has been lost to development, farming and invasive species.
