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Making red squirrels more visible: the use of baited visual counts to monitor populations

Lookup NU author(s): Robbie McDonald, Dr Peter Lurz

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Abstract

Understanding changes in the distribution and abundance of the red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in Europe, as a result of the spread of the introduced North American grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, is vital to planning and implementing red squirrel conservation measures. We studied the effectiveness of a variation on a common method of monitoring squirrels, standardised visual counts that made use of a diffuse baiting approach to increase their detectability. Significantly more sightings of squirrels occurred on baited than on unbaited visual transect lines in trials with the assistance of volunteers, and we recommend the use of baits in future studies.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Gurnell J, McDonald R, Lurz PWW

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Mammal Review

Year: 2011

Volume: 41

Issue: 3

Pages: 244-250

Print publication date: 21/01/2011

ISSN (print): 0305-1838

ISSN (electronic): 1365-2907

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2010.00174.x

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2010.00174.x

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