Hello from Squirrel Camp!
This winter myself and two field assistants have been looking at the winter behaviour and nest use of red squirrels. We're combining behavioural observations with temperature-recording devices on collars to determine how temperature and food availability affect behaviour.
The squirrels are a little harder to trap this time of year and it seems impossible to predict good trapping days. Despite that we've managed to collar over a dozen squirrels and the data that were getting back look really interesting.
The weather fluctuates quite a bit up here - we've experienced everything from -5C to -35C. The squirrels seem to handle the cold better than we do! It is also looks like an early year for breeding. We saw our first mating of the season on January 29th! That's one of our earliest starts to the season ever. We'll keep you up to date.
Sarah Woods
MSc Candidate, McGill University
This winter myself and two field assistants have been looking at the winter behaviour and nest use of red squirrels. We're combining behavioural observations with temperature-recording devices on collars to determine how temperature and food availability affect behaviour.
The squirrels are a little harder to trap this time of year and it seems impossible to predict good trapping days. Despite that we've managed to collar over a dozen squirrels and the data that were getting back look really interesting.
The weather fluctuates quite a bit up here - we've experienced everything from -5C to -35C. The squirrels seem to handle the cold better than we do! It is also looks like an early year for breeding. We saw our first mating of the season on January 29th! That's one of our earliest starts to the season ever. We'll keep you up to date.
Sarah Woods
MSc Candidate, McGill University