Catching Arctic Ground Squirrels 101
Yesterday was my first day in the field, so I got a crash course in squirrel catching 101! Here’s the scoop. After breakfast, we packed lunches to take into the field with us and signed out on the board in the dining hall (to let the kitchen know we would not be there for lunch and for safety)
Cory Williams signs Team Squirrel out for the day on the board at Toolik Field Station
Next, Cory, Kate, and I loaded into the truck and drove about 20 minutes south of Toolik Field Station to our research site on the east side of the Atigun river. Just before we left for our research site, Cory surprised Kate and I with the exciting news that we get to wear stylish fanny packs to hold maps, carrots, a knife, and other trapping supplies. I think we look stunning. Cory wasn't interested in being photographed wearing his fanny pack, but trust me; he is just as stylish as Kate and me!
Kate and Alicia model the stylish fanny packs used while trapping squirrels.
Arctic ground squirrel research has been going on at this location for several years, so more than 136 burrow locations are marked with numbered stakes and plotted on a map that we use in the field. These numbered stakes are important for data collection, navigation, and also for returning squirrels to the correct location when we finish with them in the lab.
Map of Arctic ground squirrel burrows at East Atigun River site and a number stake at one of the burrows
Setting a trap is pretty simple. First, we locate the burrow (not hard, there are burrows everywhere at our research site!). Next, we set two traps near the burrow, baited with tasty carrot pieces. The traps are cages that have a metal plate on the bottom. When the squirrel steps inside to eat the carrot and steps on the metal plate, the door closes behind them, trapping them inside the cage.
Kate Wilsterman and Cory Williams set Arctic ground squirrel traps
An Arctic Ground Squirrel trap in front of a burrow, baited with carrots
Arctic ground squirrels caught by the research traps
When we catch a squirrel, we can get some basic information from colored and numbered ear tags on squirrels that have been caught previously to help us determine if we should bring the animal back to the lab with us or release it.
Cory Williams examines a newly caught Arctic ground squirrel
If we need to take the squirrel back to the lab, we mark the cage with the burrow number where we caught it so that we can return it to the same location later. There you have it: Squirrel trapping 101! Check future blogs for more details and remember to ask questions in the “Ask the Team” section!
One of the many Artic ground squirrels at our research site