You might not know that there are 14 different species of squirrels in Alberta. They seem to be abundant and everywhere – parks, backyards and campsites. But Dr. Jessica Haines has a hunch that one species in particular might need our help.
In a conversation on the Office of Research Services Research Recast(ed) podcast, Dr. Haines tells us why she thinks Franklin’s ground squirrels might be in decline – and why these small rodents have her respect.
“One problem with a species that seems really common is often people don't report them because they think they're doing fine,” says the assistant professor of biological sciences. “Submitting observations of species that you're seeing is actually really important and really helpful for biologists like myself to use.”
She’s talking about citizen science – something that, here in Alberta, is supported by a group called Nature Alberta. It’s also what sparked this path of research for Dr. Haines.
“This project started because of the public and we're continuing to use the data that's generated by the public to help us learn more about the species.”
That data includes locations and time of year people catch sight of the squirrels. And it helps Dr. Haines and student researchers know where to begin their search.
In the summer months, Dr. Haines and a few lucky students spend weeks out in provincial parks – identified by citizen scientists – gathering DNA samples from squirrels. But how do you captivate a jumpy mammal long enough to swab their mouths for saliva?
“They are absolutely obsessed with the peanut butter we use for bait,” says Dr. Haines. She compares that data to tissue samples from specimens held at the University of Alberta Museum and the Royal Alberta Museum.
Her relationship with squirrels began while she was doing research with red squirrels in the Yukon as part of her PhD work. And she’s grown quite fond of the remarkable – and efficient – creatures.
“They are quite careful about how they spend their energy,” she says. “They sleep in, they don't stay up late and they avoid winter by hibernating through it. So they have quite the life.”
That sweet life might be endangered, though, according to early data collection and statistics about their habitat from the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, which keeps stats on the impact of humans in different areas.
“They need that really pristine habitat that we just don't have a lot of in Alberta anymore,” she says. “The Parkland region is the area that's around Edmonton and central Alberta, and that area has actually been changed quite significantly by humans.”
But the efforts of these remarkable creatures to survive – and thrive – is what keeps Dr. Haines and her students coming back to the parks every year.
“They make a living in the harshest of places!” she says. “They're just really good at living in these northern environments that we have here. They’ve earned my respect.”
Learn more about Dr. Haines’ research, including what the squirrels can tell us about an entire ecosystem, in the full episode of Research Recast(ed).