1994 Proceedings
North American Conference on Savannas and Barrens

The Foragers must simultaneously evaluate diet and habitat suitability. In this study, I used two sizes of food (diet choice) to examine foraging preferences of the eastern for squirrel (Sciurus niger) in a grass habitat, a wooded habitat, and the woodland edge habitat during summer, fall, and winter seasons (habitat selection). I found that squirrels forage preferentially for large seeds in the woods and edge habitats during summer and fall. In the winter, fox squirrels forage all seed sizes at all habitats equally. A tradeoff between perceived predation and the food energy gained is indicated. During winter, these squirrels foraged the grassland habitat as much as the wood-land and edge habitats. Squirrels made no apparent distinction between habitat (perceived risk) or seeds size during the winter.