https://www.squirrelmapper.org/news daily 0.75 2023-03-24 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/news/new-image-on-inaturalist monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1679661684321-M2QOUISMDE72Z88L1EPB/unsplash-image-2PRY885PH_Y.jpg Latest News - Update - August 2022 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/news/tag/squirrel monthly 0.5 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/news/tag/Squirrelmapper monthly 0.5 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/news/tag/squirrel+evolution monthly 0.5 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/news/tag/eastern+gray+squirrel monthly 0.5 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/team-gallery daily 0.75 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678563404488-DSF1HH3GAIVZZZALG0HM/image-asset.gif Team gallery - Rob Pringle, Professor I have always been fascinated by the ways in which species interactions “cascade” through food webs and other ecological networks. My research is motivated by curiosity, and the drive to understand how wild ecosystems work. By understanding how things work, we can appreciate them more fully and better understand how to restore them when they break. Google Scholar | ResearchGate | Twitter | CV https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699293446893-S3M7JSTBGWC3DC3WCH10/cosentino_bradley.jpg Team gallery - Brad Cosentino - Project Director and Associate Professor, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Brad’s research team is using field and genomic tools to better understand the adaptive and non-adaptive mechanisms causing the evolution of squirrel coat color. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1710177548261-Z2NA6TNOT6WEC7ERZUZR/giaella.jpeg Team gallery - Gisella Caccone - Project Co-Director, Senior Research Scientist and Lecturer, Yale University Gisella’s research team is focusing on using genomic tools to identify signatures of selection on pigmentation genes and understand landscape drivers of non-adaptive evolutionary forces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1763417112509-YY9QUL7OC2S4COR8VIHK/jpg.jpg Team gallery - James P. Gibbs - Project Co-Director, Distinguished Professor, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), Syracuse, NY James oversees project activities in Syracuse, New York https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699238025369-N2WM3UKNXFICNVCYWJV9/alex.jpeg Team gallery - Alex Blumenfeld - Environmental Protection Agency Alex is a former postdoc at Yale and continues to collaborate with us on understanding population genomic structure and identifying genomic signatures of selection at pigmentation genes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699238019884-B7CQHLO6BYJSV87YL41P/maegwin+bonar.jpeg Team gallery - Meagwin Bonar. - Postdoctoral Scholar, Yale University Maegwin is using genomic tools to identify signatures of selection at the melanocortin-1 receptor gene and using whole genome sequencing to more generally test for signatures of urban adaptation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1703204079078-31E1ARLTSMIYOYPSGVTT/Jesse_Borden_personal.jpg Team gallery - Jesse Borden - Postdoctoral scholar, Hobart & William Smith Colleges Jesse is working on using causal inference approaches to test hypotheses about spatial variation in squirrel coat color morphs within and among cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699461429204-2LMXLM1HW8JCBGSXKN5W/SamDenProfilePhoto.jpg Team gallery - Sam Denenberg, Research Technician, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Sam is leading fieldwork to experimentally investigate predation pressure on squirrel color morphs in urban and rural environments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699291799644-VODEIJEUE3UZWGKM7SEF/Fusco_221019a033.jpg Team gallery - Nicole Fusco - Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut Nicole is a former postdoc on the project and continues to collaborate with us on understanding population genomic structure and identifying genomic signatures of selection at pigmentation genes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699237722318-A4DCUS655MNQ6BODO4FK/adam+parlin.jpeg Team gallery - Adam Parlin - Postdoctoral Scholar, SUNY-ESF Adam is conducting field work to understand how squirrel coat color affects road mortality risk, and he’s using LoRaWAN to track squirrel movements at high revolution to compare differences in activity, movement, and space use between morphs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699237639487-NR8Q70ZEW8OCKA0K2PQN/proctor.jpeg Team gallery - Jessica Proctor - MSc student, SUNY-ESF Jess is using SquirrelSpotter and image analysis to better understand how urbanization affects the visibility of squirrel color morphs to predators and people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1703204007518-O87AEE4FKFK6E1IMP89G/vanek.cc076984.fill-600x600-c100.jpg Team gallery - John Vanek - Zoologist, New York Natural Heritage Program John was a postdoc on the project at Hobart and William Smith, leading our trail camera surveying to document urban-rural clines in coat color. John also led an to test for differential survival between squirrel color morphs in urban and rural areas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1703203666375-O3B30NNPXNTE44PBHXL3/kara.jpg Team gallery - Kara Vredenburgh Kara has worked in both formal and informal science education as an environmental educator, middle school science teacher and camp director and leads SquirrelMapper’s education program https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699305092279-85RVD3VTG3IXQH5IY69N/katherine-weiss.jpg Team gallery - Katherine Weiss, PhD Student, Arizona State University Kate is collaborating on our efforts to understand how predation affects the evolution of squirrel coat color in the context of urbanization. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/publications daily 0.75 2025-11-13 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/activities daily 0.75 2023-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/dc32ed7e-f386-408f-a2ee-9c93c7364889/Squirrel+Mapper-04.png Get Involved - meet squirrels with this guide https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/8eeb516f-50ce-43c7-8faf-0f1c0271cf76/Squirrel+Mapper-02.png Get Involved - classify squirrels with Zooniverse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/e1a23ef8-c949-40ad-98b6-fd1dff6a1743/Squirrel+Mapper-03.png Get Involved - find squirrels with Squirrel Spotter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/f06de976-b6f5-4db2-9f56-f9d162de90bb/Squirrel+Mapper-01.png Get Involved - map SQUIRRELs with iNaturalist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678563463208-2512KTRUTYHJTGUO8U0Q/image-asset.jpeg Get Involved https://www.squirrelmapper.org/about daily 0.75 2025-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1703184446395-23W9RY94GQH9YRWY0OCZ/unsplash-image-83JpAxhWRVw.jpg The project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1703212158349-FV852O0O2L115HNNL4D8/48755953793_d3b185de32_o.jpg The project - Black morph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/8eeb516f-50ce-43c7-8faf-0f1c0271cf76/Squirrel+Mapper-02.png The project - Evolution We study how gray squirrels have developed as a species due to dramatic changes in their habitat such as urbanization and forest loss. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/e1a23ef8-c949-40ad-98b6-fd1dff6a1743/Squirrel+Mapper-03.png The project - physiology We study the internal body processes squirrels use to regulate and maintain homeostasis to survive in their changing environment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/accaaad9-7afe-4216-98b0-2e3d2813b74c/Squirrel+Mapper-04.png The project - behavior We study what squirrels do in response to their changing environment to successfully survive and reproduce. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/f06de976-b6f5-4db2-9f56-f9d162de90bb/Squirrel+Mapper-01.png The project - Adaptation We study the process of change by which squirrels have become better suited to their changing environment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1679466605371-Y9BE3J3MZOOWPU3OWYEO/unsplash-image-oJieg2n8duk.jpg The project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678687227488-FT3SNN6BDN5ZVU029QJT/5dc487b34f450.image.jpg The project https://www.squirrelmapper.org/home daily 1.0 2023-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/4c51e26c-470f-42d1-b319-f23daa08de4f/binoculars.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/f06de976-b6f5-4db2-9f56-f9d162de90bb/Squirrel+Mapper-01.png Home - map SQUIRRELs with iNaturalist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/dc32ed7e-f386-408f-a2ee-9c93c7364889/Squirrel+Mapper-04.png Home - MEET squirrels with this guide https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/8eeb516f-50ce-43c7-8faf-0f1c0271cf76/Squirrel+Mapper-02.png Home - classify squirrels with Zooniverse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/e1a23ef8-c949-40ad-98b6-fd1dff6a1743/Squirrel+Mapper-03.png Home - find squirrels with Squirrel Spotter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1679420403327-0O1X8RJ4G0CZMX5E6LPG/Squirrel+images_iNaturalist+V3.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1679844554829-WU5GBQBXZW69TROZE86S/image-asset.png Home - About the project Learn more about the mission and vision of Squirrel Mapper About the project https://www.squirrelmapper.org/the-squirrels daily 0.75 2023-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/a8b128a9-f930-4fda-9276-72306436ef49/white+squirrel.jpeg The Squirrels - white morph This is the rarest color morph of all, and you never see this morph outside of cities. The white coloration is a mutation where the MC1R gene is completely non-functional, so no color is added to the fur as it grows. White morphs only exist in urban areas, where predation pressure is low. In addition, humans often preferentially feed white squirrels, providing a competitive advantage when living alongside humans. Image: White Squirrel Research Institute (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/15cabd20-df05-494d-a1da-4585162227a3/Eastern_gray_squirrel_-_Virginia.jpg The Squirrels - grAy morph The gray morph is what most gray squirrels look like today. Unlike the black morph, the gray morph has two complete copies of the MC1R gene. The gray coloration blends in well with the vast younger forests that have regenerated across much of the eastern United States since the 1800’s. It is by far the most common color form of the gray squirrel. Image: watts_photos / flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/943aa85a-b78f-433e-aa94-824a6391814d/pair_tree.jpg The Squirrels - coats of many colors As you can see, gray squirrels come in many different colors …usually gray but also black, white, auburn, blond...but why? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/90b338f9-42a4-4bb3-a99d-3ea49cf7936a/black+squirrel.jpeg The Squirrels - Black morph 150 years ago, this is what most squirrels in Eastern forests looked like. But after a century of hunting pressure and deforestation, this morph is now rare outside of cities. The black morph emerges due to missing bits of DNA on the MC1R gene. This black coloration is considered adaptive in cold climates because it helps the squirrel stay warm. Black squirrels, however, are easier to spot in modern forests, which lack the complex structure (and deep shadow-y hiding spots) of the past. Image: DaPuglet / flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678687531187-NMVF6A8YWX94GN1D5BD6/5dc487b34f450.image.jpg The Squirrels https://www.squirrelmapper.org/squirrel-gallery daily 0.75 2023-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678686903602-N5C1OX6T1TQNSK52JYKJ/EasternGraySquirrel_GAm.jpg Squirrel gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678686903602-N5C1OX6T1TQNSK52JYKJ/EasternGraySquirrel_GAm.jpg Squirrel gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678687053663-KMROZCIG9X8Z6CIZHUQF/NJ_Gray_Squirrel_in_Leaves_Fabian_Schreiber-scaled.png Squirrel gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1678687046555-MJN2HUW8JCLR7GZE56CA/gcjRaC5hazG2uQFzASFYMV-1920-80.png Squirrel gallery https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-blog daily 0.75 2023-12-15 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-blog/lesson-3-ms-determining-features-of-success-for-the-eastern-gray-squirrels-and-color-morphs-jzcz6-wamzr-t7hr9 monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1700081202946-LKYUMO0SPNS48MI4L80X/image-asset.jpeg For Educators - Additional Resources - Additional Resources Are you excited about this project but wondering how best to incorporate it into your existing curriculum? Do you need new ideas on how to “hook” your students interest? Feeling unsure about your background knowledge of the Eastern Gray Squirrel? Check out the links below to find resources that will help you more easily bring this project to your classroom. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-blog/lesson-3-ms-determining-features-of-success-for-the-eastern-gray-squirrels-and-color-morphs-jzcz6-wamzr monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1700081005387-5EIK20TCMAR7N6CI11G5/image-asset.jpeg For Educators - Elementary School Lessons - A mini-unit using citizen science to teach survival and genetics at the elementary level - Elementary school lessons Lesson description: In this mini-unit, teachers are presented with a collection of lessons that will help them incorporate Squirrel Mapper into their existing curriculum. These lessons cover a variety of standards from genetic inheritance to mechanisms for survival. All lessons and activities can be modified to fit within the constraints of a specific grade level or timeline. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-blog/lesson-3-ms-determining-features-of-success-for-the-eastern-gray-squirrels-and-color-morphs-jzcz6 monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1700082158150-1B13MEBEM7T9IU4P5L93/image-asset.jpeg For Educators - Middle School Lesson - Carrying capacity at different scales - Carrying capacity at different scales Lesson description: Students will explore their outdoor school campus to make observations regarding the Eastern Gray squirrel population at their school. They will then connect those observations to the online platform iNaturalist. They will engage with this platform to help record sightings of the squirrels, which in turn will help map populations and provide data to the larger scientific study they are a part of. Also, students will draw conclusions regarding the important biotic and abiotic factors that influence the survival, or lack thereof, for these populations. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-blog/lesson-3-ms-determining-features-of-success-for-the-eastern-gray-squirrels-and-color-morphs monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/943aa85a-b78f-433e-aa94-824a6391814d/pair_tree.jpg For Educators - Middle School Lesson - Determining adaptations and features of success for the Eastern Gray Squirrel and color morphs - Determining adaptations and features of success for the Eastern Gray Squirrel Lesson description: This lesson can be used to begin a unit on evolution. Students will circle the room in teams to look over squirrel artifacts - with a focus on identifying traits and behaviors that help squirrels either survive or reproduce. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-blog/resource-title-n9flj monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699910953118-DTJDVD0QPNUKN590HNT4/unsplash-image-83JpAxhWRVw.jpg For Educators - High School Lesson - The role climate change may play in the survivorship of the Eastern Gray Squirrel morphs - The Role Climate Change may play in the Survival of the Eastern Gray Squirrel Morphs Lesson Description: Students will spend few days learning and investigating two different morphs of the Eastern Gray squirrel and examining historical data . Then students will create a Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) poster based on their prior knowledge of genetics and climate change to provide the reasoning for how climate change may impact the survivorship of one morph of squirrel over the other. Students will use their data from the game as evidence. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-blog/resource-title monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/640cd84730c23a253007f407/1699915934229-BRB09BZ42PRDIC7TOS0Q/image-asset.jpeg For Educators - High School Lesson/AP - Evolutionary advantage of the Eastern Gray Squirrel - Evolutionary Advantage of the Eastern Grey Squirrel Lesson Description: Students will use the Eastern Gray Squirrel Case Study to create a claim about the evolutionary advantage of coat color in a particular environment. They will use data from SquirrelMapper and other resources for their evidence. Working in small groups, students will create a poster to display their findings. Students will submit a CER for a summative assessment. https://www.squirrelmapper.org/our-team daily 0.75 2025-05-07 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/s-hero-banner-copy daily 0.75 2023-04-12 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/a-intro-1 daily 0.75 2023-11-06 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-page-2 daily 0.75 2023-12-28 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/new-page-copy daily 0.75 2023-12-19 https://www.squirrelmapper.org/our-team-copy daily 0.75 2023-12-20