Time for Nature

Bringing back the flying squirrel

August 30, 2004

Point Pelee National Park of Canada

Southern flying squirrel
( Glaucomys volans )
© R. D. Robinson, Parks Canada

Once common in Point Pelee National Park of Canada , the southern flying squirrel disappeared from the park in the 1930's. Thanks to the dedicated work of University researchers, park staff and volunteers, the species has made an amazing comeback.

Threats on all sides

The park was created in 1918 from privately owned land previously used for cottages and farms. The southern flying squirrels' natural habitat, which consists of dead trees and branches and mature living trees, had thus already been modified upon creation of the park. The loss of habitat and the effects of feral cats (feral means domestic species that have gone wild) were primary reasons for the southern flying squirrel's disappearance.

Point Pelee National Park of Canada
© D. A. Wilkes, Parks Canada

Through time, Parks Canada worked to obtain additional private properties on the Point-Pelee peninsula. To "restart" the natural process of succession on the land, non-native trees were removed and native trees were continuously planted at restoration sites. After three decades, it was thought that the landscape had recovered enough to provide habitat for extirpated species. In the early 1990s, Professor Thomas Nudds and graduate students from the University of Guelph started working with the park to bring the southern flying squirrel back to its old home.

Reintroducing the flying squirrel

From 1993 to 1994, 99 southern flying squirrels were released in the park. The reintroduction population was obtained from woodlots near Long Point, Ontario. Their numbers dropped at first. By 1999, however, there were an estimated 221 southern flying squirrels in the park. The population was expected to rise to 713 in 2001. Approximately 750 squirrels are needed to maintain a viable population in the park.

The project provided an excellent chance to learn more about the habits of the southern flying squirrel. Thirty squirrels were equipped with radio collars to track their post release movements. Genetic analysis revealed there has had been very little inbreeding.

The reintroduction of the southern flying squirrel was funded by organizations including Friends of Point Pelee , the World Wildlife Fund , Canada's Endangered Species Recovery Fund and Pelee Island Winery, which features the southern flying squirrel on the label of its 2002 Zweigelt/Gamay Noir . Parks Canada also contributed financially and provided on-site assistance.

A work in progress

The process is far from finished. The squirrels are adapting to a less-than-ideal habitat in a maturing forest and are still preyed upon by the odd feral cat. The park and the University of Guelph continue to work together in monitoring the population for abundance, structure and spatial use of habitats.

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