Breeding potentialities of the gray squirrel at Blacksburg, Virginia

Abstract

The principle objectives of the study were; (1) determine accurately the time of breeding, (2) lactation, (3) breeding age, (4) number per litter, and to obtain other miscellaneous data on this popular game animal.

Three study areas of varying habitat were chosen. The President’s Hill (17.5 acres) is located on the V. P. I. college campus; Turkey Pen Woods (3.7 acres) is about one-half mile from the President’s Hill and adjacent to a paved highway, and North Crumpacker Woods (6.7 acres) is about 200 yards from Turkey Pen Woods.

A special trap was designed, and 74 were constructed for use throughout the study. The Monel, size I, fish tag was used for tagging the ear of the squirrel.

The original handling techniques were patterned from those used by previous investigators, however, shortly after the project was begun a squirrel funnel, made of tightly woven sack and one-fourth inch hardware cloth, was constructed and successfully used throughout the remainder of the study.