A squirrel population nearly decimated after a 2017 fire seems to be surging back to life.
The endangered Mount Graham red squirrel saw its already small population dwindle to about 35 after the Frye Fire devastated its mountainous habitat in southeast Arizona.
Since then, their population has reached better numbers and is now at an estimated 233, nearly double from the prior year. Typically this squirrel population ranges between 200 and 300.
This exceeded federal and state officials’ expectations for their annual inter-agency population survey.
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Arizona Public Service announced it may shut power off in certain areas due to rapidly changing weather, dry terrain and extreme winds that elevate the risk.
