Parkee Squirrel on Unalaska Island Postcard

Parkee squirrels are a species of ground squirrel which hibernates in winter. The reappearance of the squirrels marks the beginning of spring on Unalaska Island. Parkee squirrels were first introduced to the Fox Islands by the Russians. The Russians had introduced breeding pairs of wild foxes to a cluster of islands in the Aleutian Islands chain which became known as the Fox Islands because of this. Unalaska Island is one of the Fox Islands. Parkee squirrels create burrow complexes with several entrances and exits. They seldom stray far from an entrance, preferring to expand their tunnels systems to cover more feeding areas. Although they are cautious animals, parkee squirrels are very curious and they are often seen posed on tops of rocks to look around.