Population estimates, habitat requirements, and landscape design and management for urban populations of the endemic Big Cypress fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia)

The Big Cypress fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia) is endemic to open forests of southwest Florida. Rare in wild lands of southwest Florida, its remains on certain golf courses in Lee and Collier counties. This study was carried out from August 1995 to December 1997 to document squirrel population levels in a variety of golf course landscapes, to determine habitat use and requirements of course populations, and to provide guidelines for favorable landscape design and management in developing areas.;Elements of vegetation composition and structure, and landscape configuration were recorded at 60 golf courses. Counts of squirrels were made at each course to determine fox squirrel population levels. A Landscape Evaluation Index, developed from cluster and factor analyses of landscape elements, allowed ranking of the 60 courses in terms of their suitability for fox squirrels.;Radio-telemetry was used to examine home range size, habitat use, and population dynamics at 1 high quality course and 1 lower quality course. Tracking studies indicated a density of 42.4--49.8 squirrels/km2 at Site 1 and a density of 6.3--8.2 squirrels/km2 at site 2. Squirrels fed heavily on pine and cypress from late summer to mid-winter, and relied on native and exotic species between March and May. At Site 2, squirrels showed a heavy reliance on feeders between January and July.;The Index identified 7 courses with high quality landscapes. All were part of 36 hole courses, contained large stands of open pine and cypress, and had large contiguous areas free of automobile traffic. The remaining courses had unfavorable landscape elements: isolation within developed landscapes, small stands of undesirable species, heavy understory vegetation, and complex development patterns. Twenty-three courses offer little opportunity for habitat. Thirty courses can improve habitat for present fox squirrel residents, but do not contain the landscape features required for long-term populations.;Landscape design and placement are crucial in creating and preserving fox squirrel habitat. Courses, or groups of courses, must contain large areas free of roadways and development to allow safer movement within large home ranges. Vegetation must include large stands of pine, cypress, cabbage palms, and associated native trees with open understories.