Nicholas R. Holler

Initial Gray Squirrel Population Responses to Nest Boxes in Two Forest Types in Southern Alabama

We studied short-term response of gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) populations to nest boxes in mixed-pine (Pinus spp) hardwood and even-aged pine forests in Alabama from December 1988 to September 1990. Nest boxes (5/ha) were installed in 3 mixed pine-hardwood and 3 even-aged pine stands. We used a split-plot design to determine if populations differed between treatment (with nest boxes) and control (without nest boxes) halves of mixed pine-hardwood areas. In even-aged pine area, post-treatment population indices of squirrels (minimum number known to be alive [MNA]) were compared to...