Mast Year Effects on Trap Success of Southern Flying Squirrels in Schmeeckle Reserve 2020-2025
Wildlife Ecology and Management Katie Carlson
Wildlife Ecology and Management Julia Vnuk
Wildlife Ecology and Management Ryan Burmester (Not Pictured)
Southern flying squirrels (SFS, Glaucomys volans ) are nocturnal, omnivorous rodents with a diet consisting largely of hard mast from oaks and hickories, which varies by year. Undergraduates with UWSP’s chapter of the Wildlife Society have been trapping SFS since 2020, and the number trapped varies widely with year. We aimed to determine the relationship between mast production and trap success. We hypothesized that SFS trap success would be influenced by mast production because squirrels are less likely to enter traps in years of high mast. We live-trapped SFS every fall using baited, tree-mounted trapping grids at two sites in Schmeeckle Reserve. We anesthetized, ear-tagged, and recorded sex and weight of each captured SFS. We categorized each year as either high or average mast based on news reports and published research. Non-target mice interfere with SFS trapping. We z-standardized Poisson distributed raw trapping data and used Excel to calculate a multiple linear regression to determine if mast years and/or non-target captures significantly affected SFS catch. We also calculated a second multiple linear regression based on traps available to SFS and subsequent nightly trap rates. Fewer squirrels were trapped in high mast years when compared to normal mast years, and fewer squirrels were trapped on nights with higher non-target catch. Trap rates of SFS in available traps increased as non-target catch increased. We recommend monitoring SFS populations in normal mast production years. High mouse populations can result in significant trap interference due to similar periods of activity.
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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