Home Range and Density Estimates for the Northern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, in Western Oregon

Abstract

The northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, was studied in western Oregon using livetrapping and radiotelemetry. One hundred sixty-five squirrels were captured 1,023 times during 15,922 trap nights, from December 1981 through May 1986. Using the inclusive boundary strip method, home ranges were estimated to be 3.7–4.2 ha. Similarly, with cumulative captures and radiotelemetry locations for five flying squirrels the home ranges also were calculated to be 3.4–4.9 ha using the minimum-convex-polygon technique. Estimates from both methods were dependent linearly upon the number of captures or locations. Evaluation of data from 12 trapping sessions in old-growth forest revealed that ca. 38–73% of the effective trapping area was outside the trapped area. Density estimates in second-growth forest was 0–0.24 squirrels/ha with a mean of 0.12 squirrels/ha. Similarity, in old-growth forest the density estimates were 0.52–1.28 with a mean of 0.85 squirrels/ha.