Domestication

Comparison Between
Wild and Campus
Squirrel Populations
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
JENNA WIERSMA
Introduction

Just about every creature has a group of researchers observing and analyzing their interactions

and behaviors. One particularly intriguing behavior adaption is urbanization, which takes place

when a wild animal become urbanized. Urbanization is common now with human societies

expanding and creating city type landscapes. Urbanization is a simple term used to describe the

process that an animals or other organism goes under when introduced to an urban setting. As

they go through the process they change their behaviors and adapt to the new environment to

survive. Research done on the wild and campus population will show if the campus population is

working its way to reliance on humans and if they are heading in the direction of becoming a

nuisance population. The research will also show the differences in behavior between the two

populations and demonstrate how human interactions and if living in close proximity effects the

squirrel populations, specifically in their natural survival behaviors like avoidance and fleeing.

The proposed research is to determine the level of domestication within the North Dakota State

University squirrel population.

Literature Review

Previous research has been done on the comparison of the two populations of wild and campus

squirrels in 2014 by Ricci. The research goes into detail and shows data about location of

squirrels, the diet and if they were frequently finding food within trash cans. Loss of fearfulness

is the first step towards domestication. Once an animal no longer fears a human being and can

approach it without the instinct to flee, they become more reliant on the easy to access resources

that are often provided by humans within the squirrels territory. An example of easy access

resources would be living amongst humans and depending on the humans to receive food.
This phenomenon is surprisingly common within state parks, were tourists are often seen feeding

the wild animals despite warning sign. The weight of evidence provided in literature shows that

the feeding of wildlife produces significant problems (Orams, 2002). There is a positive side to

wild animals becoming domesticated, but solely benefits the organization that has such animals.

The effect is tourism that brings in people to see and interact with the tamed animals. The

tourism brings in money for the organizations, so that they can stay functioning. However, in the

long run the animals that have become domesticated and now solely rely on people for resources,

develop behaviors that eventually lead to nuisance problems. (Orams, 2002) Alert distance did

not differ between the approach by a human alone and the approach by a human with a dog;

however, in the high human activity sites (but not the low human activity sites), the presence of

the dog increased alert distance in the squirrels (Cooper, 2008). Coppers study shows a positive

correlation between human interaction/ activity level and a squirrels fear response.

As stated before when an animal loses that fear response and becomes closer integrated with the

human society, they quickly become a nuisance to the human population. (Orams 2002). I

propose a study on the wild and campus population that will show if the campus population of

squirrels is working its way to reliance on humans and if they are heading in the direction of

becoming a nuisance population. The research will also show the differences in behavior

between the two populations and demonstrate how human interactions and living near humans

affects the squirrel populations, specifically in their natural survival behaviors like avoidance and

fleeing.

Methodology

Objectives
The purpose of the proposed research is to learn and compare the behavior of campus squirrel

populations with wild squirrel populations. The questions we hope to answer with this research

include, are the interactions between individual squirrels similar or different? Do they interact

with human at all and what is there level of domestication?

Data collection and analysis

A survey will be made using an online tool, such as survey monkey. Once the survey is created it

will be distributed to the general campus public of North Dakota State University through email.

The survey will contain a handful of question what will be answered using a rating scale or yes/

no design. A sample of the design can be seen in the appendix of this proposal. Once the survey

is sent out and the polls begin to come, data collection will begin by recording all the polled

answers. Observations will be done on the squirrel population that inhabits the North Dakota

State University (NDSU). NDSU is a northern school located in Fargo, North Dakota. This

school was selected due the significant size of the squirrel population and includes both red and

grey squirrels. Campus boundaries will be marked on a map (see appendix) and squirrels must be

within the boundaries to be included in the study. A worksheet will be filling out during the

observation of the squirrels. A sample of the worksheet will be located in the Appendix. The

worksheet will record the species of squirrel, a rating of domestication and if they interacted with

another squirrel or human.

Methodological Reasoning

As our world moves more and more into urbanizing vast parts of our world, animals have to

adapt to survive. This research will take a look at a smaller species that is already well known for

being part of an urbanized group. Squirrels are often seen in backyards in many towns, this
research simply takes it to a broader setting, were an entire population can be sustained in the

single location known as a college campus. This research will be a key component to eventually

studying how larger species adapt to their new environment or fail to do so. This research will

demonstrate the benefits but also costs of having humans and animals live hand in hand.

Ethical considerations

Interactions between squirrels and human may increase the likelihood of the squirrels become

less fearful of humans. This can lead to domestication or lack of fear. Squirrels that under-go this

process being to solely rely of humans for sources of food. Obesity tends to occur from the large

amount of free access food, which ultimately become fatal to the squirrel.

Timeline

Task Start Date End Date

Proposal Draft 2/20/17 2/28/17

Proposal Submission 3/7/17

Data Collection 3/7/17 3/30/17

Data Analysis 3/7/17 3/30/17

Progress Report 3/20/17 3/30/17

Research Paper Draft 4/1/17 4/13/17

Research Paper Final 4/14/17 4/20/17

Appendix

Survey
Have you ever encountered a squirrel on campus? Yes/ No

Was it a red squirrel or a grey squirrel? Red/ Grey

Did they interact with any other squirrels? Yes/ No

Did they interact with any humans? Yes/ No

How would you rate the squirrels on campus in term of domestication?

1 2 3 4 5
Keeps a distance
Flee when people Timid or curious Will approach Will eat from a
from people but
are near when near people people persons hand
doesnt flee

Worksheet

Breed of squirrel that is being observed? Red/ Grey

Is the squirrel interacting with any other squirrels? Yes/ No

Is the squirrel interacting with any humans? Yes/ No

What is its attitude toward humans on the following scale?

1 2 3 4 5
Keeps a distance Timid or curious
Flee when Will approach Will eat from a
from people but when near
people are near people persons hand
doesnt flee people

How would you rate the squirrels on campus in term of domestication?

 1 2 3 4 5
Keeps a distance Timid or curious
Flee when Will approach Will eat from a
from people but when near
people are near people persons hand
doesnt flee people

Campus Boundaries Map

Green area shows the areas that will be included in the study

Work Cited

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Squirrels in Suburban Habitats Differing in Human Activity Levels, Northeastern
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McCleery, R. A., Lopez, R. R., Harveson, L. A., Silvy, N. J., and Slack, R. D., Integrating on-
campus wildlife research projects into the wildlife curriculum

McRae, T. R. (2012). Predator-specificity of multimodal alarm signals in the eastern gray

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