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Mohn Mill, sampled 10 quadrants using haphaᴢard, Area method:  total time was 5 hr.s 20 minutes.  Red Maple was the highest frequency species, error rate with red maple frequency was 61.5%.

Mohn Mill, sampled 10 quadrants using random/systemic, Area method:  total time was 5 hr.s 19 minutes.  Red Maple was the highest frequency species, error rate with red maple frequency was 12.09%

*Random/systemic Area method was 1 minute faster and much more accurate of the two.                                     ______________________________________________________________

Mohn Mill,  10 samples using haphaᴢad, Distance method:  total times was 2 hr.s 0 minutes.  Red Maple was the highest frequency species, error rate with red maple frequency was 23.1%

Mohn Mill, 10 samples using random/systemic, Distance method:  total time was 2 hr.s 2 minutes.  Red Maple was the highest frequency species, error rate with red maple frequency was -9.9%.

*Random/systemic Distance method still had a higher accuracy but was 2 minutes longer of the two.

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At 30 quadrants, Mohn Mill, Area, Haphaᴢard method  had an error rate of -6.50%, measuring Red Maple frequency.

At 30 quadrants, Mohn Mill, Area, Random/Systemic method had an error rate of -2.198%., measuring Red Maple frequency.

At 30 samples, Mohn Mill, Distance, Haphaᴢard method had an error rate of 1.2%, measuring Red Maple frequency.

At 30 samples, Mohn Mill, Distance, Random/Systemic method had an error rate of -2.6%, measuring Red Maple frequency.

*Haphaᴢard Distance Method had the lowest error rate with Red Maple frequency at 1.2%, using 30 samples which seems unusual seeing that the Random/Systemic Area and Distance error rates were -2.198 and -2.6, quite similar and quite low.  You would have expected the Random/Systemic methods to have superior accuracy even with the larger sample areas.  But this was just one species and one variable, Red Maple frequency; more species, more variables, more quadrat, and more samples would be needed to draw more definite conclusions.

Upon reading the academic journal on territory, dispersal, and density of red squirrels, I discovered that the area they use in the forest is much smaller than what I have observed with my own squirrel  Depending on habitat quality (food sources, aerial walkways, low predation rates, nesting sites), forest squirrels have a mean average siᴢe of <1 ha, but much larger 1.6-4.8 ha in times of food scarcity.  As you will see in the photos, the red squirrel has an abundance of food sources, from spruce cones, douglas fir cones, pine cones, gardens, fruit trees, chicken coops (grain), maple trees (seeds), walnut tree, not to mention fungi, bird’s eggs, invertebrate, and juvenile mice.  The sex of the squirrel is unknown but males and females are similar with the males being slightly larger.  This squirrel has been here 2 years but I have not seen any young, yet.  There is an abundance of trees for aerial walkways and and these trees also aid in protection from…

predation.  Squirrels create “middens” throughout their territory and have one central “midden” where they store an abundance of food cache for winter.  Predation is by weasel, martin, coyote, cat, dog, and all aerial predators (hawks, owls).  I believe my woodpile is the central “midden” in this area.

I have broken up the territory into 4 environmental quadrants all ranging in siᴢe of approximately 1.5 ha.  Taking into account where I have seen the squirrel travel, I would say his/her territory encompasses about 5 ha.

I have decided to focus on why the squirrel has chosen my woodpile in quadrant B, to make as his central ‘midden’.  I will show  it is the density of the conifer trees in this quadrant that brought this squirrel to be in my woodpile and not in woodpiles in the other quadrants.

The response variable for my project will be my woodpile.  The predictor variable will be the conifer trees in the squirrel’s 5 ha territory.  My hypothesis will be that the red squirrel chose my woodpile  as his central “midden” because of the number of cone bearing trees in quadrant B.

Post 2, Elliot  Academic Sources.

I will be using these two academic peer-reviewed articles in my study of the red squirrel population density in an urban environment.  I will be focusing on the food sources available and what in particular attracted this red squirrel to my wood pile.

“Does Density Reflect Habitat Quality for North American Red Squirrels during a Spruce Cone failure”  by Mathew Wheatley, Karl W. Larsen, Stan Boutin.  Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 83, Issue 3, August 1, 2002.  Pages 716-727.

“Species Habitat model for Red Squirrel’  Original model and ratings table prepared by Nicola Tribal Association, Edited by Les Gyug, Okanagan Wildlife Consulting, January, 2008.

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Elliot, Post 1.

My observations are on a red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) that has taken up residence in my woodpile.  The squirrel arrived here 3 years ago and appears to be staying.  The squirrel was busy in the fall gathering walnuts, maple leaf seeds, green pine cones, fall sunflower seeds, and nuts to store in the woodpile next to my home.  He was also active in the  fall chewing on wood for its pulp and stripping cardboard boxes to insulate his home for the winter.  The squirrel is now very active and can be heard during the day and seen munching pine cone seeds.  He appears to like eating sitting on top of certain posts as is evidenced by the pine seed shells underneath these poles.  I have observed him travelling certain corridors that occur mainly on trees but also on roofs like my own home and garage.  I have heard him make different calls and am wondering if each call has a certain significance.

Questions

Why has the squirrel left the forest to come live in an urban community?

Why has the squirrel chosen this particular woodpile?

What else does this squirrel eat?

What are its predators?

Are squirrels becoming a pest in urban environments?

What is the squirrel’s territorial range?

Are these squirrels an abundant species or a threatened species?

Sources of scientific information.

Post 2

Initial field observations.

Post 1

My field research project has made me appreciate the traditional ecological knowledge I have received from my community, grandparents, culture and previous job experience in cultural heritage resources. It also made me appreciate the education journey I am on learning and studying new western science and ecology. It is truly inspiring and reassuring of the journey I am on to raise awareness and make a different in the Forestry Practices/ Land Management regimes of this generation. It is only the very beginning for me and I have tons to learn still but this project was fun and awakening!

I believe that all Land Managers/Forest Professionals can work better together with First Nation Communities and exchange these traditional teachings and traditional ecological knowledge for the benefit of our beautiful land. Its no secret that our land is experiencing change from invasive non-native species, over-grazing and over-logging. This is the time we can conduct these studies and incorporate traditional land management strategies with current and bring back climax community in all of our ecosystems, watersheds and backyards.

Thank you for this opportunity in my early studies of school! only my second year of college, good luck to everyone else!