Type: report

Article abstract: This document has been written to satisfy the reporting requirements for 2013 SOW Task C, and summarizes the burrow survey from Fall 2013 to characterize squirrel activity. Through fall of 2013 the overall footprint of squirrel activity on the plots continued to increase, and squirrel activity continued to be largely concentrated in the plots that received squirrel translocation. There was variation in the proportion of burrows found in the mowing-only treatment subplot relative to the mow/augur treatment subplot, but the overall correlation of burrowing activity with mowing treatment remained strong. The 2013 results continue to support the earlier project results that both mowing and squirrel translocation are required for significant levels of squirrel activity on the experimental plots. The results of repeated measures modeling with surface disturbance as a proxy for activity levels provide additional evidence for the interaction of squirrel translocation and mowing. The numbers of burrows dropped slightly in all of the four translocation plots whose treatment plans were completed in 2012. However, the number of remaining burrows indicates either persistent activity levels or persistent effects of activity in the first year after the completion of the treatment plan. The 2012 addition of the second year treatment protocol for vegetation treatment and supplemental squirrel translocation supported the persistence of treatment effects on squirrel burrowing activity. 2014 spring data collection will enable these analyses to be evaluated with higher replication as the two pairs added in 2012 reach their third year with both squirrel translocation and vegetation treatments completed.