THE DISTRIBUTION OF GRAY SQUIRREL DREYS IN FARM WOODLAND - THE INFLUENCE OF WOOD AREA, ISOLATION AND MANAGEMENT

1. Sixty-eight deciduous woodlands, ranging in size from 0.2 to 12.5ha , were surveyed in East Anglia, UK, and the density of grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis. estimated from drey counts. 2. Squirrel dreys we re more likely to occur in woods that (i) were larger, (ii) were close r to another wood of at least 5ha in size, (iii) contained oak Quercus spp., beech Fagus sylvatica or hazel Corylus avellana, and (iv) were surrounded by a greater density of hedgerows. 3. The overall density o f woodland in the vicinity, the distance to a wood of at least 0.5 ha in size, and the presence/absence of five other tree species did not i nfluence squirrel drey distribution between the woods. 4. In woods tha t contained squirrel dreys, density was higher in woods with a greater density of large trees (diameter in excess of 50 cm) and in woods whi ch were closer to another wood of at least 0.5 ha in size. 5. Since re ducing the probability of squirrels inhabiting a plantation will reduc e the risk of young trees being bark-stripped, the results of this stu dy have implications for the design of new farm woodlands.