%0 Article
%T Damage caused by squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) to pine-buds
%A Pulliainen, Erkki
%A Salonen, Kalervo
%D 1965
%J Silva Fennica
%V 
%N 117
%R doi:10.14214/sf.a14285
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/4727
%X <p>When the seed harvest of Scots pine (<em>Pinus sylvestris</em> L.) and Norway spruce (<em>Picea abies</em> (L.) H. Karst.) are low, pine and spruce buds are among the secondary food items of squirrel (<em>Sciurus vulgaris </em>L.) in Finland. In this study, conducted in Nokia in Southern Finland in 1962-1963, eating of pine buds by squirrel is described. The eaten buds in 15-years old Scots pine seedlings were recorded in two seedling stands.</p>
<p>According to the results, the squirrels selected the largest buds of the best seedlings in the studied stands. In over 50% of the cases the squirrels chose only the buds of the leading shoot, especially the terminal bud. In half of the trees, a side bud of the leading shoot continued the growth, which causes form defects in the trees. In 35% of the damaged trees, a lateral branch continued the growth. Well-growing seedling stands may be especially susceptible for damages caused by, for instance, squirrels.</p>
<p>The PDF includes a summary in Finnish.</p>