Far From Being A Barren Rock, Shemya appears green from the air (when
visible); although extremely high winds accompanying winter storms
prevent the growth of trees, there is a variety of other vegetation,
including several grasses and a sort of grass-like evergreen which
makes an excellent and attractive ground cover, needing no trimming
to appear like a lawn. A number of wild flowers decorate the island
in summer, from great white blossoms of sunflower size (if not height),
to several kinds of daisies, to delicate purple blooms the size of
lilies-of-the-valley. Sorbus Sambucifolia, the rare mountain ash
which, on the North American Continent grows only on Attu and Agattu,
has not been found on Shemya. The island, however is awaiting a
competent botanist as well as a geologist to catalog it.
                                     Animal life on the island is
    mostly piscatorial, with dolly
    varden, rainbow,  flounder, halibut
    and Japanese perch to be caught
    from shore; and mussels,  hermit
    crabs, and other aquatic life to
    be found among the rocks. Sea
    lions frequent the rocks near the
                                     island, and ducks, gulls, and
other sea birds fly overhead. Most popular of the wild life, however,
are the little foxes which roam about tamely. Since they keep the rat population down, the foxes are protected, and as a result of this
security they will eat out of your hand. Stand back, though, they're
not house broken.

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