Observation Of Squirrel

Squirrels, likewise to humans and non-human animals, adjust their behaviors in accordance to seasonal changes. One key behavior that has been shown to vary by season is squirrel foraging behavior. It is important to understand this relationship in order to promote the well-being of squirrels by ensuring their ability to acquire energy-rich food year round. In a study conducted by researchers Everts, Strijkstra, Hut, Hoffmann, and Millesi (2004), it was shown that aboveground activity level amongst squirrels differed by seasons depending on the amount of sunlight and weather pattern. Observations began and ended during twilight hours—after sunrise and before dawn, and before sunset and after dusk, respectively. From the observations, it was …show more content…
However, unlike the study conducted by Makowska and Kramer (2007), Wheeler and Hik (2014) focused greater attention on energy efficiency. Energy efficiency was measured by how long squirrels remained at a patch of food, and how much energy was acquired from the food. Observations of squirrels were in environments with varying levels of visibility. When placed in an environment of high visibility, and the food patches were surrounded by areas of low visibility, squirrels were more likely to remain only a brief moment at any single patch of food, and were more inclined to move from patch to patch. This was due to the fact that the area surrounding the food granted the squirrel little predator visibility. Likewise, when placed in an environment of low visibility, and the food patches were enclosed in areas of high visibility, the squirrels exhibited the same behavior. This behavior stemmed from the concurrent reason of low predator visibility for the squirrels, however, squirrels in the latter scenario were involved in further risk as predators could easily spot them. The constant movement of squirrels due to low predator visibility constrains squirrels’ ability to acquire sufficient amounts of