Squirrels are fantastic creatures that live all over the world, including your backyard! These floofy-tailed creatures are more than adorable (and sometimes annoying) creatures — they’re actually perfect models to study evolution, species conservation and habitats (like woodpecker cavities).
Your local squirrel observations are needed for research questions like these and more. Find out how you can add your squirrel sightings with five citizen science projects!
Go nuts,
The SciStarter Team
Two hundred years ago, most squirrels were black. So why are the squirrels we see today mainly grey or brown?
To help solve this mystery, join 35,000+ people documenting local squirrel coat color across North America with SquirrelMapper.
Location: Global
Help researchers explore the world of woodpecker cavities and the animals (like squirrels) that use them!
Watch video footage from trail cameras near red-headed woodpecker cavities to capture and describe the behaviors and interactions of the community of animals that depend on these spaces.
Location: Global
Count the number of squirrels near you and report your findings to help scientists learn about tree squirrel ecology.
Some neighborhoods may have multiple species while a nearby town only has one species — why is that? Fill out the Project Squirrel data sheet and submit with optional photos to help scientists better understand which squirrels live where.
Location: Global
Put up a flying squirrel nest box to help scientists determine where southern and northern flying squirrels are present in New England.
All you have to do is check your nest box monthly and report on its contents. Aid data collection by uploading a picture of the flying squirrels and your nest box.
Location: Northeastern United States
California has lots of squirrels and chipmunks, including the northern flying squirrel, eastern gray squirrel, lodgepole chipmunk and Merriam’s chipmunk. But some, like the native western gray squirrel seem to be declining, while others, like the eastern fox squirrel are actually not native to the area.
With your observations, researchers will better understand the distribution of California’s squirrel species, how these species interact, how urbanization impacts these squirrels and in what habitats these squirrels reside.
Location: California
The daytime world of leaf-loving, crawling moth caterpillars will share the spotlight this year with night-flying, winged moths during the 11th Annual National Moth Week, July 23 through 31.
Moth-ers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in this international citizen science project by observing and learning about day-crawling caterpillars and night-flying moths, which play an important part in ecosystems around the world. Individuals, groups and organizations can register their NMW 2022 events for free at nationalmothweek.org.
It’s summer and there’s a whole lot of pollinating going on. Learn about scientists’ efforts to monitor important pollinators like bumblebees, monarch butterflies and hummingbirds, and how you can help. Featuring projects: Bumble Bee Watch, Journey North and the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project!
07/26/2022, 7:00 PM EDT to 9:00 PM EDT
Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join together for a celebration of GLOBE citizen science on 26 July 2022 from 7-9 pm ET (11-1 UTC). At GO C3, you will meet other volunteers who participate in The GLOBE Program using its GLOBE Observer app, hear presentations from GLOBE volunteers, talk to scientists and learn what they are doing with GLOBE data, and meet GLOBE Observer support staff.
Discover more citizen science on the SciStarter calendar. Did you know your SciStarter dashboard helps you track your contributions to projects? Complete your profile to access free tools. Want even more citizen science? Check out SciStarter’s Project Finder! With citizen science projects spanning every field of research, task and age group, there’s something for everyone!
