A novel technique for detecting northern flying squirrels

Abstract

The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) is currently recognized as a keystone species because of a symbiotic relationship between the squirrel, mycorrhizal fungi, and mature forests. As habitat loss threatens to challenge populations of flying squirrels range-wide, wildlife managers and conservationists could benefit from new techniques to survey this nocturnal and secretive species. Here, we developed a novel noninvasive survey technique that combined remote cameras with enclosed bait tubes designed specifically for detecting the presence of flying squirrels. We used this technique to survey for northern flying squirrels throughout their range in Wyoming, USA, from May to October 2012-2014. This technique produce average daily probability detection rates of 54% (SE ¼ 0.02%) with greater rates in the autumn (Aug-Oct). Detection rates varied with length of survey and number of camera stations, providing flexibility for managers to modify survey design depending on project objectives. This technique also nullified the risk of capture myopathy, to which flying squirrels may be susceptible when surveyed using live-trapping methods. Our results suggest that remote cameras combined with enclosed bait tubes can be a cost-efficient and effective tool in assessing and monitoring population trends in occupancy and distribution of northern flying squirrels throughout their range. Ó 2016 The Wildlife Society.

Towards more compassionate wildlife research through the 3Rs principles: moving from invasive to non-invasive methods

“…Camera traps can be even a more efficient method of detection than other methods, such as hair traps, cage traps or scat count surveys (Monterroso et al 2014, Welbourne et al 2015, Day et al 2016. This efficiency improves when using a lure or bait (Boulerice andVan Fleet 2016, McLean et al 2017). Modern camera traps can record also videos that can be used in behavioural studies (Lobo et al 2013, Flagel et al 2016.…”

“…Camera traps have been used for detection of many species, including small terrestrial and arboreal mammals such as red and eastern grey squirrels, Sciurus vulgaris and S. carolinensis (Di Cerbo and Biancardi 2013), foxes Vulpes velox (Stratman and Apker 2014), feral cats and European wildcats, Felis catus and F. silvestris (Anile et al 2014, Stokeld et al 2015, dogs Canis familiaris (Rasambainarivo et al 2017), Hermann's tortoises Testudo hermanni (Ballouard et al 2016), northern flying squirrels Glaucomys sabrinus (Boulerice and Van Fleet 2016), North American river otters Lontra canadensis (Day et al 2016) and grey wolves Canis lupus (Sver et al 2016). Figure 1.…”

Noninvasive and cost‐effective trapping method for monitoring sensitive mammal populations

“…An increase in door mass would have increased the likelihood of hair capture as squirrels pushed out of the door; however, this may have increased the likelihood of trap mortality from squirrels unable to escape. The human effort required to maintain live‐trapping grids for this species for demographic analysis, stable isotope studies of diet, or collect samples for DNA analysis would be time‐ and cost‐prohibitive and indeed, nearly all of the current monitoring efforts for this species and the endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel ( Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus ) use nest boxes for this reason (Stihler et al , Weigl et al , Ford et al ), whereas Boulerice and Van Fleet () and Diggins et al () recommend other noninvasive monitoring methods for this species. Similar methods using hair collection have been used to document presence–absence for other rare species of wildlife species including wolverines ( Gulo gulo ; Magoun et al ), Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ; Schmidt and Kowalczyk ), and rare tropical carnivores (Castro‐Arellano et al ) because of the challenges related to studying species that occur at low density or in challenging terrain.…”

Can camera traps be used to differentiate species of North American flying squirrels?

“…Although camera traps have been extensively used for larger mammals (e.g., Karanth 1995, Ríos‐Uzeda et al 2007, Rich et al 2017), they are increasingly being applied to survey smaller‐bodied mammals such as rabbits (Leporidae; Larrucea and Brussard 2009, Villette et al 2017), woodrats ( Neotoma spp. ; Castleberry et al 2014, Lombardi et al 2018, Cove et al 2019), spotted skunks ( Spilogale putorius ; Wilson et al 2016, Thorne et al 2017, Higdon and Gompper 2020), and squirrels (Sciuridae; Tye et al 2015, Boulerice and Van Fleet 2016, Logan 2016).…”