Assessing Habitat Preferences of Urban Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys Volans) in Washington D.C.

The field of urban ecology has gained attention as urban areas increase. Cities are not often considered priorities in regard to wildlife conservation. However, many wildlife species persist, and thrive, in urban environments. Habitat usage of urban flying squirrels is poorly understood. This project used remotely triggered wildlife cameras and a suet cake bait system to detect southern flying squirrels in urban green spaces throughout the Washington D.C. area. Flying squirrels were detected in three out of twenty sample sites. Considerations for future research could be baiting higher up on trees, adding more sites, and comparing baited sites to non-baited sites.

My name is Faith Kruger, and I am a senior majoring in environmental science. This presentation today is on assessing the habitat preferences of urban southern flying squirrels in Washington D.C. According to the World Bank by 2050, the number of people living in cities worldwide will double. Cities are not often considered priorities in regard to wildlife conservation. However, many wildlife species persist, and in some cases, thrive in urban environments. While this field of urban ecology has gained increased attention more research is needed to understand habitat requirements to promote coexistence and wildlife conservation in urban areas. In Washington DC, the Department of Energy and Environment lists the southern flying squirrel as a species of greatest conservation need. Southern flying squirrels are arboreal, nocturnal mammals found throughout the eastern United States. Studies focusing on southern flying squirrels in more natural habitats are numerous. However, there are few studies that have examined populations of southern flying squirrels within urban habitats. Since flying squirrels may have different habitat needs within urban environments, specific studies on urban flying squirrels are needed for effective and economical management and conservation of the species. This summer project used remotely triggered wildlife cameras to detect southern flying squirrels in urban green spaces throughout the Washington D.C. area. Southern flying squirrels rarely appear on traditional camera setups because they rarely come down from the tree canopy to be captured on camera. Therefore, a novel bait system of suet cakes and cages attached to trees was used in attempt lure the squirrels into the targeted camera range. Cameras and bait were deployed at 20 sample sites for an average of 33 days, and sites were visited midway through to replace bait. Occupancy models were used to analyze the data collected, estimate flying squirrel distribution throughout the study area, and identify environmental parameters that may predict the presence of flying squirrels. Flying squirrels were detected at three out of the twenty sites. Covariates used were canopy height, tree cover, distance to road, human population density, and impervious surfaces After running occupancy models for each, the null model was the model with the lowest AIC and was therefore the top model, this means that variables did not add any information. This is likely due to lack of detection of flying squirrels for various reasons such as non-target animals eating bait, few sites, and possibly placement of bait. We can still interpret our null model to see what the average occupancy of flying squirrels around D.C. would be, and we get a 0.15 probability of a flying squirrel being present at a given site based on the data that we have from the summer. As mentioned, an obstacle encountered was non-target species eating the bait, even though the suet cakes were wrapped in wire mesh before being placed in the cage and being wired shut in an attempt to prevent this. It is possible that the bait actually deterred flying squirrels by constantly attracting other species, mainly racoons. Other considerations for future research could be baiting higher up on trees, where the squirrels may feel safer, and not at eye level, as well as adding more sites. This was partially a test of a novel bait system, so future questions include does baiting trees increase detection of flying squirrels? Which would be comparing baited sites to non-baited sites. Continuing to study flying squirrels will give land managers information about urban flying squirrels to guide habitat management and flying squirrel conservation. Something I enjoyed about his project was being able to be in the field and see on cameras multiple species, from turkeys to mice, that were curious about the bait. There is truly an impressive amount of wildlife in this, and all urban areas.