Study

Red squirrel conservation: The assessment of a reintroduction experiment

  • Published source details Fornasari L., Casale P. & Wauters L. (1997) Red squirrel conservation: The assessment of a reintroduction experiment. Italian Journal of Zoology, 64, 163-167.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Translocate to re-establish or boost populations in native range

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Translocate to re-establish or boost populations in native range

    A study in 1986–1996 in a forest and heathland reserve in Lombardy, Italy (Fornasari et al. 1997) found that a population of translocated red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris increased in size over 10 years and expanded to nearby woodlands. Three to four years after eight translocated squirrels were released, the population had increased to 38–126 squirrels. By ten years after the first release, the squirrel population had further increased and colonized all five woodlands (squirrel abundance in 1996 is not given). Between December 1986 and August 1987, eight red squirrels were translocated to a 3,500-ha reserve containing 800-ha of woodland, from which the species was extirpated in the 1940s. In February 1990, squirrel nests were counted on a 70-ha plot and the population size was estimated based on a mean of 4.5 nests/squirrel. In spring 1990 and 1996, all five woodland blocks at the release site were searched for 30 min to 1 hour for dreys or typical feeding signs.

    (Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)

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