Abstract
The distribution and habitat use of the Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris L. was studied in Nopporo Forest Park (43°20'N, 141°30'E), Hokkaido, Japan where a study area consisting of a total of 401, 200 m by 200 m, grid squares was established. Observations were made of individuals, their dreys, their feeding signs, and their footprints (after dusting with wheat flour). Squirrels were found to be widely distributed throughout the study area, and to inhabit 45 of the 401 squares (11.2%). Squirrels occurred at high frequencies in three areas within the forest. The percentages of squares in which squirrels lived, differed significantly between different forest types, with 28.2% of squares in evergreen coniferous forest used, 5.3% in deciduous coniferous forest; 5.2% in mixed forest; 3.9% in deciduous broad-leaved forest, and 0% in other areas. We concluded that dusting with flour was a useful method for revealing footprints, and that this facilitated the ease study of squirrel distribution. The distribution of the red squirrel clearly depends on the forest type. Coniferous forest areas were selected as habitat by squirrels during summer because they provided good sources of food and ideal sites for building dreys.
