Hello, everyone.
I’m excited to share some updates and findings from my ongoing study of squirrel behaviour in my suburban backyard in Newmarket, Ontario. My research has focused on how the availability of food and the presence of competitors affect squirrel foraging behaviour. Despite facing numerous challenges, my journey into the world of urban wildlife has been extremely educational.
Data Collection Activities:
I divided my backyard into three distinct areas: the fence, the ground, and the wooden deck, each of which provided a unique setting for observing our furry friends. The diverse microhabitats, which range from more open spaces to secluded areas, provide an ideal setting for observing a wide range of behaviours.
Replicates Sampled
Over the last six weeks, I’ve held 30 observation sessions, each lasting 30 to 45 minutes. These sessions were spread out throughout the day, resulting in 15 to 22.5 hours of direct observation under various weather conditions, with the goal of capturing a wide range of squirrel activity.
Challenges Encountered
Putting my sampling design into action hasn’t been without challenges:
• Weather Variability: Planned observations were delayed due to inclement weather, which can impact animal behaviour.
• Lack of Technological Aids: Initially, I planned to use motion-activated cameras to supplement direct observations and capture nocturnal or subtle activities. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints and availability issues, I was unable to obtain these cameras. This limitation has limited my ability to continuously monitor the area, particularly during times when my presence may affect squirrel behaviour.
• Human and Predator Disturbances: The presence of neighbours and predators, such as foxes, disrupted the squirrels’ natural behaviour patterns, creating gaps in my data.
Ancillary observations
Despite these challenges, my research has yielded some unexpected insights:
• Inter-species interactions: Squirrels foraged near jackrabbits, which surprised me. This suggests a complex interaction that may not be solely based on competitive dynamics.
• Squirrels demonstrated remarkable adaptability by using less frequented areas of the backyard when their preferred areas were disturbed. This adaptability is an essential survival skill in urban environments.
Reflections on the Hypothesis.
My initial hypothesis focused on how food availability and competitor presence affected foraging behaviour. However, the adaptability and variety of inter-species interactions observed indicate that my understanding of these dynamics could benefit from a broader perspective, which could include more variables in future studies.
Moving Forward.
As I process the data, these ancillary patterns will be critical in refining my hypothesis and may lead to additional research into urban wildlife behaviour. The difficulties I encountered during data collection have also highlighted the need for innovative solutions in future observational studies, particularly in urban settings.
Conclusion
This research project continues to provide valuable insights into squirrel behaviours and interactions in urban ecosystems. I’m excited to share more findings as I progress through the analysis phase, and I hope to contribute useful information to the field of urban wildlife management and conservation.