b'Trails Reportof the most accurate in my humble opinion, involves the native furry eared squirrel. You may think these are just red squirrels, but they are a different breed, pretty much put on this earth for predicting winter weather in the northeast.The hair on the tops of the squirrels ears keep snow out of its ears, much like eyelashes keep dust and other particles out of our eyes.This enables the squirrel to hear its predators, such as owls and hawks, even in deep snow.Survival is not the only use for this hair atop the squirrels ears. It also doubles as a highly accurate snow depth gauge used by many to foresee the depths of the winter snows ahead. Longer hair atop the ears means deeper snows is how the saying goes.The furry eared squirrel is not to be confused with the Alberts Squirrel which only ranges in the south from Mexico to the Rocky Mountains in the west. The furry eared squirrel is only native to the northeast.The reason I say this is the most accurate means of measuring snow depth involves real life experience.In the fall of 1998, I was bird hunting in a clear cut behind my childhood home. As I stood near a double topped spruce tree deciding which way to go, a sudden movement caught my eye in the crotch of the spruce where out popped a furry eared squirrel. I had heard of them but never before laid eyes on one. The sight was astounding,(Wikipedia Commons Public Use photos)and the hairs on the tops of its ears were so long they had started curling right back around almost 180 degrees.weatherlore there is only one way tocrazy old timer down at the corner Looking back, it was like it was atell an accurate tale about the weatherstore and rewritten here.Twenty Kardashian squirrel (before anyoneand that is using a good old fashionedminutes of your life that you are never knew who the Kardashians were). Ifweather stick or weather rock. There isgoing to get back for sure.Be sure to there were phones capable of suchnot any advanced notice, but the truecreate your own new ways to predict things at the time, this squirrel wouldaccuracy of these things is difficult tothe weather or pass these tried-and-have been photo-worthy. I recall tellingbeat, only surpassed by the furry earedtrue methods onto your children the friends I rode with, you had bettersquirrel.Instructions for use go asand grandchildren, and feel free to save up for lots of snowmobile gas andfollows; If it is white, it is snowing! Asembellish them as you see fit. That is oil this winter because we are goingsnowmobilers that is all that matters. what makes a story a story!As for me, to need it. The hairs on the squirrelsNo app for the cell phone necessarywell, ask me in May and I will let you ears predicted the winter well; it washere folks! know what to expect for the winter of an incredible winter, with major stormsAs a last resort, view the interactive2020/21!from November to April and withVAST map at www.vtvast.org.If that riding everywhere. I think we evendoes not tell you almost all of what you rode to Virginia one week. That isneed to know, you should probablyEditors note: For our second April how far south the snow was good thatlook to other recreational pursuits thatFools joke of this issue, we give you the year. The squirrel ears never lie! I haveare not as weather dependent. YouVermont Furry Eared Squirrel! Dont also got some ocean front property inshould now be well versed in weatherfeel bad if you fell for it! This editor wasted Arizona! forecasting using rodents, plants, or45 minutes of her day searching online for If you are not interested in all thisinsects! Most of it learned from thea photo of one to go with Matts article! Winter 2021 | 13'