CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS, IN CALIFORNIA FROM 1900-2015 WITH PROJECTIONS FOR ITS POTENTIAL FUTURE RANGE

Carly M Creley; California State University, Los Angeles; carlycreley@gmail.com; Rosemary, B, Garcia, Alan, E, Muchlinski, Fraser, M, Shilling, Kate, M, Tiedeman

The main goals of this study were to map the current distribution of the Eastern Gray Squirrel in California as of 2014 and to examine changes in the distribution of the species from approximately 1900 to 2014. Data were obtained from museum specimens, wildlife rehabilitation centers, a roadkill database, and research-grade citizen observations. Location points were mapped using ArcGIS software. A population is located from San Francisco south to areas around Gilroy and Santa Cruz. This population is positioned to expand north along the eastern side of San Francisco Bay. An isolated population now exists in and around Monterey. A population became established north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Another population exists from Marin City to Santa Rosa. A population introduced to Sacramento has spread west, south, and east of the city. The species is present from Davis, to Placerville, and Elk Grove. A population introduced to Bellota has spread to Stockton and the Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills. Ecological niche modeling software and remote sensing data has been used to project future range expansion by this species within California.

Ecology and Conservation of Mammals     Student Paper