Mearns’s Squirrel in Sierra San Pedro Martir, Baja California
Nicolas Ramos and John Koprowski
The conservation and ecology of Mearns’s Squirrel (Tamiasciurus mearnsi) in Sierra San Pedro Martir, Baja California, Mexico
The Mearns’s squirrel is an montane island endemic found in the highest regions of Baja California’s greatest mountain range at elevations around 3000 m. The species is considered to be threatened in Mexico and no ecological studies have been conducted. In addition, eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) were introduced to lower elevations over 50 years ago and their status is unknown. Related species in the United States typically larderhoard conifer cones. In our first visit to the region in November 2004, we caught glimpses of only two animals and did not find any larderhoards suggesting the behavior and ecology of this species may be quite interesting. Field efforts will begin in spring 2005 with plans to capture and radiocollar animals to assess their habitat use and basic ecology. The project will continue for at least 4 years and we will continue to update this site as we obtain additional information. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.
Nicolas Ramos, Ph.D. student, Wildlife Conservation and Management, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA,
John L. Koprowski, Associate Professor, Wildlife Conservation and Management, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.