Project Squirrel
Project Squirrel
Embedded Files
Project Squirrel provides an idea of distribution of the squirrel species and makes connections to their habitat preferences.
Project Squirrel provides an idea of distribution of the squirrel species and makes connections to their habitat preferences.
Goals of Project Squirrel Research:
Goals of Project Squirrel Research:
- Track squirrel populations and distribution in our area.
- Observe how squirrels are adapting to urbanization (turning natural spaces into human habitats).
- Track food consumption by squirrels to determine the food scarcity for local squirrel populations.
- Observe squirrels as important indicators of local ecology. They are resident in small territories and active year round.
Why should you care?
Why should you care?
Squirrels are an adaptation success story!
Squirrels are an adaptation success story!
Squirrels can live in forests and in cities and are active all year round.
Squirrels can live in forests and in cities and are active all year round.
They have little trouble adapting to humans developing cities in natural spaces in a process called urbanization.
They have little trouble adapting to humans developing cities in natural spaces in a process called urbanization.
What Squirrels Tell Us
What Squirrels Tell Us
Since they are resident in small territories and active year round, we can monitor changes to the wider ecosystem.
Since they are resident in small territories and active year round, we can monitor changes to the wider ecosystem.
Squirrels require a range of resources that are also important to many other urban animals, and their populations rise and fall with the same predators and environmental conditions that affect our neighborhood wildlife.
Squirrels require a range of resources that are also important to many other urban animals, and their populations rise and fall with the same predators and environmental conditions that affect our neighborhood wildlife.
By observing their human provided food intake, scientists can determine the availability of food in the urban area.
By observing their human provided food intake, scientists can determine the availability of food in the urban area.
The more risk a squirrel is willing to take to receive food from humans, indicates there is a shortage of food sources in these urban areas for the squirrels.
The more risk a squirrel is willing to take to receive food from humans, indicates there is a shortage of food sources in these urban areas for the squirrels.
Did you know?
Did you know?
There are over 265 species of squirrel worldwide.
There are over 265 species of squirrel worldwide.
Squirrels In Northwest Indiana
Squirrels In Northwest Indiana
Indiana is home to 3 main species:
Indiana is home to 3 main species:
Eastern Grey Squirrels
Fox Squirrels
Southern Flying Squirrels
Project Squirrel focuses on these species
Project Squirrel focuses on these species
Eastern Grey Squirrels
Fox Squirrels
Who Runs Project Squirrel?
Who Runs Project Squirrel?
Project Squirrel was started by University of Illinois. Data is now collected by the Miami University in Ohio.
Project Squirrel was started by University of Illinois. Data is now collected by the Miami University in Ohio.
Project Squirrel was originally created by Wendy Jackson and Joel Brown, and has been operating since 1997.
Project Squirrel was originally created by Wendy Jackson and Joel Brown, and has been operating since 1997.
Due to participant observations, many important discoveries have been made about the squirrels that live in the Chicagoland area.
Due to participant observations, many important discoveries have been made about the squirrels that live in the Chicagoland area.
How Do I Participate?
How Do I Participate?
Students will need to establish their data collection area by identifying and measuring the trees in the area. Once the site is established, they will look outside and record data on squirrel activity.
Students will need to establish their data collection area by identifying and measuring the trees in the area. Once the site is established, they will look outside and record data on squirrel activity.
Data collected needs to include date, time, species, type of habitat, species of trees nearby, other animals present.
Data collected needs to include date, time, species, type of habitat, species of trees nearby, other animals present.
This data will help to determine what species of squirrels require different urban habitat traits.
This data will help to determine what species of squirrels require different urban habitat traits.
As an extension, you can place a corn cob in foraging area and collect data on how many kernels are left over day to day.
As an extension, you can place a corn cob in foraging area and collect data on how many kernels are left over day to day.
This data helps determine how accustom to humans the squirrels are and if there is enough food present in the habitat.
This data helps determine how accustom to humans the squirrels are and if there is enough food present in the habitat.
You must be able to identify squirrels based on your sight of them in order to submit correct data.
You must be able to identify squirrels based on your sight of them in order to submit correct data.
There are no time or frequency requirements.
There are no time or frequency requirements.
You can observe squirrels and submit data whenever possible!
You can observe squirrels and submit data whenever possible!
How is my data used?
How is my data used?
Data collected from Project Squirrel research has gone to writing important academic works studying the ecology of the Chicago Metropolitan area, like "The Coexistence of Fox and Gray Squirrels" in 2005.
Data collected from Project Squirrel research has gone to writing important academic works studying the ecology of the Chicago Metropolitan area, like "The Coexistence of Fox and Gray Squirrels" in 2005.
Data is used by scientists to help determine:
Data is used by scientists to help determine:
~Species of squirrels in different urban habitats
~Species of squirrels in different urban habitats
~Squirrel populations
~Squirrel populations
~Food availability for urban squirrels
~Food availability for urban squirrels
Project Perks
Project Perks
Project Squirrel gives you the opportunity to learn more about your local urban natural area.
Project Squirrel gives you the opportunity to learn more about your local urban natural area.
This project gives vital data to scientists that are helping study urbanization in the Chicago Metro area and beyond.
This project gives vital data to scientists that are helping study urbanization in the Chicago Metro area and beyond.
You can develop your wildlife photography skills.
Data can be entered easily-even on a smartphone.
You can develop your wildlife photography skills.
Data can be entered easily-even on a smartphone.
Fast Notes
Fast Notes
- 3 species of tree squirrel can be seen in Northwest Indiana.
- Project Squirrel focuses on Fox and Grey Squirrels.
- Data collected from Project Squirrel research has gone to writing important academic works studying the ecology of the Chicago Metropolitan area.
- Since they are resident in small territories and active year round, we can monitor changes to the wider ecosystem.
- Data collected will help to determine squirrel populations and food availability in different urban ecosystems.
- Project Squirrel was originally created at University of Illinois at Chicago, but data is now held at Miami University.
- This project allows you to collect data whenever and wherever you want, without any restrictions.
Page updated
Report abuse