Squirrel Gray, Sciurus carolinensis

Gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis hair Florida 1974 ... 

We will examine whether a diurnal rodent, the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) avoids predator odors and whether this avoidance is specific to certain predator species that pose more of a threat than others. This experiment arose from our course Chemical Ecology of Vertebrates during the autumn of 2000. Surprisingly, we could not find published studies of predator odor effects on squirrels. Dr. Frank Resell, then a student in the course, undertook this experiment as his individual research project and extended it after the end of the course for a publication (Rosell 2001). 

Remains of acorns of red oak, Quercus rubra, after gray squirrels, Sciurus carolinensis) have been feeding on them. Top row. cross section of acorn, with radicle barely visible at apical pole at the bottom. Middle row. Parts of acorns left behind by squirrels. They discard apical pole (with radicle visible). Such pieces are later consumed by birds such as blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata). Bottom row. pieces of acorn shells. Photo D. MiiUer-Schwarze... 

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