Characteristics and Body Condition of Recaptured Eastern Gray Squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis ) in Schmeeckle Reserve
Wildlife Ecology and Management Ella Follman
Mark-recapture sampling is a widely used method for monitoring population demographics. Since 2020, we have used this method to study gray squirrels within Schmeeckle Reserve, a 113-hectare urban park located in Stevens Point, WI. Between February and March, we deploy live traps baited with a calorically dense peanut butter-and-oat mixture. Traps are baited at 6 a.m. when temperatures are between 13.5°C and 9.4°C. Traps are checked at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m. When a squirrel is caught, we record its age, sex, ear length, weight, and, if present, its ear tag number. New squirrels are marked with a new ear tag. Some animals in mark-recapture studies can become accustomed to traps and exhibit reduced fear and even an attraction to them, a behavior known as “trap happiness”. Trap-happy individuals can be problematic in these studies, as frequently recaptured individuals can exert greater influence on population estimates and our analyses of population-wide characteristics. Between 2020 and 2025, recaptured squirrels had a significantly lower average body weight than that of squirrels only captured once (p < 0.05), indicating that trap-happy behavior could be driven by an increased desperation for high-calorie food. Previous studies have linked repeated exposure to peanut butter with weight gain in rodents. Analyses of our data from the 2026 trapping season are ongoing, but we hypothesize that, over the course of the season, the body condition of recaptured squirrels will increase due to bait consumption.
Advisors: Shelli Dubay, Ph.D. Ben Sedinger, Ph.D.
Subject Area: Wildlife
Type: Poster
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Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium
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