Conservation Target : Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel ( Glaucomys sabrinus) - Federally Endangered Management Goal: Conserve Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel populations Biological Conditions Contributed Service Conservation Strategies Strong population fluctuations, habitat priority Biodiversity, Supporting, Cultural Inventory, Monitoring, Research History and Adaptive Process: Like bats, flying squirrels (De-Wa- ᏕᏩ ), are revered in Cherokee moral stories in relation to their role in the game of stickball. The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (CNFS) is found only in the high mountaintops in western North Carolina, southwest Virginia, and eastern Tennessee. It was listed as Endangered in 1985, likely due to the loss of mature trees suitable for nesting. The CNFS is only known to occur on EBCI lands within the Tribal Reserve . Initial nest-box surveys for CNFS were conducted in 2006, however the first detection of the species was not found until 2008. Continued nest-box surveys from 2009-2019 yielded only 4 recaptures (>4% recapture rate) but nearly 90 CNFS and 50 southern flying squirrels (SFS) total captures. Due to the limited resulting data and potential stress on the animals, we stopped monitoring nest boxes and developed a plan to monitor flying squirrels using acoustics. This monitoring method took some development but can be used for both SFS and CNFS. Pilot- studies for squirrel acoustics began in 2019, with official surveys starting in 2021. Official surveys for the first year identified both species of flying squirrels. High elevation spruce-fir forests are listed as a restoration priority under the revised EBCI Forest Management Plan. We have participated in the spruce-fir working group for our region- where restoration is a priority.
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
Current Methodology for Conservation Strategies Inventory & Monitoring: Conduct acoustic surveys using passive acoustic detectors to determine flying squirrel distribution across the boundary. Research: Process recordings to determine flying squirrel distribution during different winter/spring time periods (November through May). Work towards modeling occupancy of flying squirrels across the boundary and preparing data and methods for peer review. Management: Create training material for interns and staff to be able to process squirrel recordings. Aid tribal citizens with flying squirrel issues as they arise. Usually helping to remove animals from attics.
Results and Discussion for Information Transfer and Processing Ecological:
Both species of flying squirrels are still found within high elevations of Tribal Reserve. Flying squirrel trills are the easiest to identify within our recordings and potentially the most abundant of the squirrel call types. There are areas with ideal habitat that have never had CNFS captures.
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