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Reproduction, juvenile survival and retention in an urban fox squirrel population

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Abstract

Fox squirrels in an urban environment had an average litter size of 2.83 (95% CI 2.5, 3.16) which was similar to rural populations. Nonetheless, the proportion of squirrels reproductively active during the summer/fall breeding season (0.73) and annually (spring + summer/fall) was higher (1.23) than previously recorded for non-manipulated rural populations. The average monthly survival rate (\(\mathop S\limits^ \wedge = 0.960\)) of urban juvenile fox squirrels during the first 14 weeks of life was higher than reported for adult populations in the area. High rates of reproduction and juvenile survival yielded high juvenile to adult ratios (juveniles/adults) averaging 0.44. Retention of juveniles after 6 months (15%) was significantly less (χ 2 = 7.24, p = 0.0071) than adults/subadults (40%). Results suggest that the urban environment provides quality habitat for fox squirrels and fox squirrels in urban environments have the potential to be a source population for surrounding suburban and rural environments.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Roel R. Lopez and Nova J. Silvy for their support during this project. I am also grateful to the anonymous reviewers of this manuscript whose constructive criticism and editing suggestions greatly improved it. Thanks are extended to the undergraduate students whose hard work and dedication made this project possible. I also want to make a special note of the contributions of S. Kahlich, and L. Gallant, whose countless hours trapping and tracking fox squirrels made them invaluable. Funding and support was provided by the Ed Rachel Foundation and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

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  1. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2258, USA

    Robert A. McCleery

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  1. Robert A. McCleery
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Correspondence to Robert A. McCleery.

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McCleery, R.A. Reproduction, juvenile survival and retention in an urban fox squirrel population. Urban Ecosyst 12, 177–184 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-008-0074-7

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