WildEarth Guardians

Thursday, December 9, 2004
This study provided a second year of monitoring for Abert's squirrel densities across a broad spectrum of ponderosa pine forest

Squirrel densities were found to be extremely low in comparison with most other regions and times.
Contact: Frey Biological Research

Carson National Forest designated the Abert’s squirrel as a management indicator species (MIS) for ponderosa pine forest with interlocking canopies in the 1986 Carson Forest Plan. Consequently, information is needed on their distribution and abundance on the forest. A long-term monitoring program is required in order to track population changes and to assess the impacts of forest management practices on this species. Further, during 2003 it was found that available stand characteristics maintained by Carson National Forest were not useful in predicting Abert’s squirrel occurrence or abundance. Consequently, the main purpose of this study was to provide a second year of monitoring for this species on the Carson National Forest and to initiate habitat studies. More specifically, the objectives were to implement monitoring protocols, to determine occurrence and density of Abert’s squirrel, to determine the relationship between Abert’s squirrel density and habitat characteristics, and to provide a second year of data for a long-term monitoring program.

Read the Habitat Analysis (PDF)