Pine Paradise

Pine Paradise. . You are amidst a stand of ponderosa pines. These majestic trees which can reach heights of 180 feet provided a variety of habitats for wildlife. , Porcupines, pygmy nuthatches, red squirrels and mule deer inhabit ponderosa pine forested. Porcupines find abundant food food here in the form of tree bark, bud and twigs. A slow-moving mammal, the porcupine climbs trees to escape danger. Porcupines are very fond of salt and because of this, they are often killed on roads where salt had been used to thaw ice. , Ponderosa pine forest are sometimes the subject of attacks by insects and for this reason, the pygmy nuthatch is a very beneficial resident. A mere four inches long, this small bird eats insects which may attack the pines. Nuthatches are unique to the bird world because of their ability to travel head first down trees. , Red squirrel find abundant food in pines forests in the form of pine seeds. Look around and you may see a squirrel midden. A midden is a pile of cone scales which has been left after the squirrel has eaten the seeds inside the cone. Red squirrel may also find fungus, eggs and other seeds to eat. . This historical marker was erected by Wyoming Fish and Game Department. It is in Upton in Weston County Wyoming