Present study aimed to determine the importance of rocks and cliffs as shelter for Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus; Gmelin, 1778) inhabitants in Zagros oak forest. Thirty circle shape sample units (30 m radius in size) were randomly selected in study site. There were no rocks and cliffs in ten sample units as blank. Other sample units were covered by 10 to 30 percent (ten plots) and more than 30 percent (10 plots) of rock cover and cliffs respectively. Other habitat factors such as: elevation, aspect, slop, distance from roads and water and food availability were approximately the same. Then the relative density of Persian squirrel in each sample unit calculated based on direct observation during November 2012. SPSS package (release 16) used for statistical analysis. Mean densities were compare using one-way ANOVA analysis and Duncan test. Persian squirrel relative densities between treatments (i.e. plots) were significantly differed based on one-way ANOVA analysis results (F27, 2 = 4.941; P = 0.015). Field observations confirmed that Persian squirrel use cliffs and rocks as shelter to avoid of its most important predator which is human in Zagros oak forest. According to the results of this research, in Zagros oak forest, the more Persian squirrel density should not be translate to the more habitat suitability for this species.
