Study

Squirrel nest boxes: are they effective in young hardwood stands?

  • Published source details Nixon C.M. & Donohoe R.W. (1979) Squirrel nest boxes: are they effective in young hardwood stands?. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 7, 283-284.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Provide artificial dens or nest boxes on trees

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Provide artificial dens or nest boxes on trees

    A replicated study in 1973–1975 of two stands of young hardwood trees in Ohio and Illinois, USA (Nixon & Donohoe 1979) found that nest boxes were used by gray squirrels Sciurus carolinensis at one site and by flying squirrels Glaucomys volans at both sites. At a 21–23-year-old forest stand, gray squirrels did not make active use of any of 10 boxes but flying squirrels occupied 7–10 boxes over six inspections. At a 32–36-year-old forest stand, gray squirrels occupied 7–18 boxes across five inspections and flying squirrels occupied 2–6 boxes. Ten boxes were installed in autumn 1973 in the 21–23-year-old stand, which covered 1.9 ha. They were inspected six times from April 1974 to November 1975. Twenty boxes were installed in April 1973 in the 32–36-year-old stand, which covered 4 ha. They were inspected five times from August 1973 to March 1975.

    (Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)

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