Limiting factors for northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) in the Pacific Northwest: a spatio-temporal analysis

Wilson, Todd

Study of the ecology of northern flying squirrels in managed and natural forest stands. From the Abstract: "Northern flying squirrels may be important indicators of the long-term health and management of Pacific Northwest forests, including development of successful regional strategies for managing northern spotted owl habitat under the Northwest Forest Plan. I used live-trapping, radio-telemetry, and within-stand measures of squirrel habitat to (1) assess mid-term effects of variable-density thinning on squirrel populations in young, managed forest, (2) quantify multi-dimensional space use by individual squirrels, (3) contrast squirrel populations across 33 natural and managed stands that were representative of wide gradients in within-stand structural complexity found in Pacific Northwest forests, and (4) test hypotheses evaluating the relative importance of four primary limiting factors for flying squirrel populations--food, competition, predation, and dens. Squirrel populations remained low 12 years after stands were treated with variable-density thinning. At the same time, high-density populations were found elsewhere across western Washington. Most space use by individual squirrels occurred above the forest floor and there were marked differences in movement patterns and behaviors between the breeding and non-breeding seasons and between forest supporting low- and high-density squirrel populations. Forests that supported high squirrel abundances generally exhibited high amounts of multi-dimensional structure in the midstory and overstory layers, low to moderate amounts of understory, and few canopy gaps."

Limiting factors for northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) in the Pacific Northwest: a spatio-temporal analysis

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