Squirrel Project Update

With trapping all wrapped up and 15 fresh collars fitted to TA's squirrels, it is time to begin phase two of our annual squirrel monitoring project. During this phase of our mark/recapture study, we monitor feeders with trail cameras, keeping track of the number of squirrels visiting the feeder and whether or not they are wearing a collar. A typical mark/recapture study would use a second round of trapping to gain an idea of the ratio of collared to non-collared squirrels in the population. When I designed the study, I chose to use the trail camera technique with the idea that squirrels that have been previously handled would be less likely to be trapped again. One of the major assumptions in this research is that all squirrels have the same likelihood of being captured. Those educated squirrels avoiding our traps would be a major source of error. The trail camera allows us to "capture" any squirrel that climbs onto the feeder without them ever realizing it. The basic formula we use to estimate our population (known as the Lincoln-Petersen Index) is shown below.

  M (Number of Marked Individuals)                R (Collard Squirrels Recaptured on Camera)

        ----------------------------------------------       =       --------------------------------------------------------

     N (Total Number of Squirrels in Pop.)             T (Total number of "captures" on Camera)

My lab aide, Cody Agro, is tasked with keeping the feeders full and sifting through thousands of photos of squirrels, looking closely for collars, and recording data in our shared spreadsheet. He is off to a great start with some interesting findings already. 

Cody sifting through photos and recording data

A week in, we have had plenty of activity on our campus feeder but only two individual squirrels have been documented. This aspect of our research is really cool. Many people wonder if they are seeing the same squirrels in their backyard day after day and in this case it seems as though we are. Both squirrels are wearing collars. One is a male collared on October 2nd sporting a yellow collar (2018) with all white beads. The other is a squirrel wearing an orange collar from 2016! This means this squirrel is at least 2.5 years old, an old timer by squirrel standards, we think. This individual has been seen around campus a few times this fall. I was really hoping to get a fresh collar on it this year but we never caught it during our initial trapping. It seems as though this is one of the those previously educated squirrels our trail camera method seeks to make up for. If not for a distinct scar on its back and a notch in its left ear, it would be hard to tell if this was the same individual over and over again. 

An orange collared squirrel from 2016 on the feeder last week

A male from the class of 2018 on the feeder last week 

We are just a few days into phase two of the research this year and the big questions are already popping up? Where are the other nine squirrels collared within 100 yards of this feeder site this year? Having only collared individuals on camera suggests we have caught and collared every squirrel in the population, something we know from daily observation is not the case. I suspect that as the season rolls along and food becomes limited, our feeder site will draw more squirrels. Only time will tell, stay tuned!

TAAS Outing on the Saco

The Thornton Academy Anglers' Society was in action this past Sunday (10/7) on the Saco River in Steep Falls continuing to develop our canoe skills and chasing the last bass of the waning season. The fall foliage was beginning to peak along the river which made for a beautiful backdrop. We had some new members on the outing with us today including sophomore, Jake Lowe, who boated the lunker of the trip soon after pushing off from shore.

Jake with his 16" Saco River smallmouth

All in all, the fishing was to be expected for early October, hot in isolated spots and slow in others. Almost everyone had landed a fish or two by the end of the trip. Reigning angler of the year, Tyler Gilbert, earned high hook for the day with 12 fish boated. Tyler caught all of those fish while working solo in his canoe, a testament to his experience on the water.

A pair of TAAS canoes work the shoreline on a misty autumn morning

This trip was extra special as we had my father along chaperoning. He's responsible for instilling and fostering my passion for the outdoors, something I strive to pay forward with my TAAS kids today. We spent countless hours fishing the Saco River together as I was growing up so it was neat to share our old stomping grounds with the club. A big thank you has to also go out to the Dyer family of Steep Falls for granting us permission to access the river through their property. Without gracious landowners like the Dyers, Maine's outdoor heritage would not be the same. Landowner relations and appreciation are another key component in the lessons I work to teach TAAS members. Ensuring that our next generation of outdoorsmen/women are thoughtful stewards of the land is what conservation is all about.

From Left to Right: Julien, Marcus, Nolan, Chloe, Nathan, Matt, Jake, Justin, Xavier, Andrew, and Tyler pose for a group photo after a great morning on the river.  

Fast Action Squirrel Trapping

With the local squirrel population at a high point in its natural cycle and limited natural food available this fall, I had a feeling that trapping may be a bit easier than in the past couple of seasons. Still, we went into this week with cautious optimism. Squirrel trapping, much like fishing involves skill and a little luck. My initial hunch was proven true with the first three days of trapping being stellar.

Despite rain on  Monday and Tuesday, we have now captured 7 total squirrels and placed 5 fresh collars on individuals. Honestly, we should have placed 6 but I was duped by one squirrel who made a quick U-turn and sprang form the handling cone before I could get it secured. Moments like these are humbling with 27 scrutinous teenagers looking on. Tuesday proved to be a banner day with all four traps producing a capture, a first in our program.

Preparing to measure the hind foot length of a T.A. Squirrel, 10/3/18

Wednesday had the potential for another great day with all four traps again triggered but only two captured squirrels. As you can imagine, squirrels are clever creatures who often attempt to reach in from the side of the trap to get at the bait without entering. Often they hit the tripper and shut the trap preventing them from being able to enter at all. It can be frustrating to make our rounds and find multiple traps closed but empty. In an effort to combat this, we brush the traps in with branches to make it a little more difficult for the squirrels to reach the bait from the side. The "brushing-in" of traps also serves to make the squirrels feel more secure entering the trap. In years past we have found that bare traps sitting out in the open capture fewer squirrels than ones draped in branches.

Placing a collar on a T.A. squirrel, 10/3/18. Notice the orange beads used for individual identification. 

One of the squirrels captured on Wednesday was our first recapture of the year. A male that had been captured and collared in the same location the day before. At the time of this writing, we have fitted 5 squirrels with yellow collars, each with a different bead color for individual identification later on.

The moment a newly collared squirrel is released, 10/3/18. 

Special thanks to Hannah Kirk for sharing her great photos documenting squirrel handling procedures and my daughter, Scarlett, for sharing her beads for the good of science.