Living beside familiar neighbours boosts a squirrel's chances of survival and successful breeding, new research shows.
Living beside familiar neighbours boosts a squirrel's chances of survival and successful breeding, new research shows.
The study measured year-to-year survival of North American red squirrels – and found keeping the same neighbours was so beneficial that it outweighed the negative effects of growing a year older.
However, living near genetic relatives did not improve survival rates.
The research – part of the Kluane Red Squirrel Project – used 22 years of data on squirrels in Yukon, Canada, within the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
Read more at University of Exeter
Image: A North American red squirrel (Credit: Dr. Erin Siracusa)
