ACTIVITY AND DIET OF AN URBAN-POPULATION OF BIG CYPRESS FOX SQUIRRELS- A REPLY

Maehr (1993) is correct that Jodice and Humphrey (1992) did not conduc t a comparative, quantitative study showing that urban landscapes are more valuable than native ones for the threatened Big Cypress fox squi rrel (Sciurus niger avicennia). However, the evidence supporting ow st atement that ''populations on golf courses appear much denser than in natural habitat'' (p. 691) is substantial albeit mostly qualitative. I nsistence on better data does not justify inaction when the best avail able data clearly indicate opportunities to realize wildlife benefits. Use of harvest data to infer population status by Maehr (1993) is ala rming in view of the history of failure of this approach to natural-re source management. We proposed the comparative study Maehr thinks we s hould have done, but the funding available was insufficient. We reiter ate that the golf-course squirrels present an opportunity for conservi ng wildlife, promoting favorable land use, and engaging a pro-wildlife constituency, and we argue for seizing conservation opportunities whe rever they occur, whether in urban or native context.