In Alberta, scientists are seeking assistance from the public in spotting a rare rodent known as the Franklin’s ground squirrel. Led by wildlife biologist Jess Haines, the research project is a joint effort between Haines’ team at MacEwan University and the conservation group Nature Alberta. The project was initiated after local naturalists observed a decline in the squirrel population and realized no research was being conducted on it.
The primary goal of the project is to demonstrate the decline in the population of Franklin’s ground squirrels, which are currently categorized as “undetermined” by the Alberta government due to insufficient data on their status. Haines aims to gather enough data on population trends to potentially change the squirrel’s status to at-risk. Unlike Richardson’s ground squirrels, which adapt well to human-altered environments like pastures and golf courses, Franklin’s ground squirrels rely strictly on natural habitats with dense brush and forested areas.
Human activities such as land conversion for agriculture and urban expansion have directly contributed to the decline of Franklin’s ground squirrels, once prevalent throughout central Alberta and into the southern boreal regions and foothills. However, their populations have now significantly dwindled, with only a few remaining in specific locations like Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, Pigeon Lake, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, Rochon Sands Provincial Park, and Buffalo Lake.
In comparison to other ground squirrels living in large, visible colonies, Franklin’s ground squirrels naturally exist in small numbers and low densities, making them more vulnerable to extinction from local areas. The research project, which involves fieldwork by Haines and her team, encourages public participation in reporting historical and current sightings of the squirrels through the iNaturalist platform. The project also accepts submissions of historical sightings on the Nature Alberta website to track the previous and current distribution of the species in the province.
With no set end date, the project periodically shifts its focus, with the current emphasis on studying the squirrel’s diet and habitat. Myrna Pearman from the Red Deer River Naturalists, who has developed an affinity for Franklin’s ground squirrels, emphasizes the importance of protecting the species, whose numbers have been declining unnoticed until recently. Presently, no squirrel species in Alberta are classified as at-risk, but the unique Franklin’s ground squirrel can be distinguished by its grey head and long, bushy tail among the 14 squirrel species found in the province.