Investigating Population Estimates of Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) in Two Habitat Types in Schmeeckle Reserve

Abstract

Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) are one of 3 species of flying squirrel found in North America. Since 2020, students with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society have been trapping Southern flying squirrels in 2 locations, a mixed hardwood forest and an oak savannah with large oaks, in a small Reserve north of campus, but trap success varies with year. For instance, we trapped 12 unique individuals in one location in Fall 2024, but trapped 0 the previous year. We use Sherman traps suspended in trees baited with peanut butter, oats, and bacon grease in September and October each year. We affix a uniquely numbered tag in each squirrel’s ear, weigh them and determine sex and age. We will use a Huggins closed capture model in program Mark to estimate and compare population sizes and variability between the 2 trap locations. We hypothesize that there will be more population variability in the mixed hardwood forest with a lower estimated population size. We aim to improve our understanding of the population variability of Southern flying squirrels in the Reserve.