Zoom into Nature: Flying Squirrels

Zoom into Nature series is back and starts on Tuesday, October 1 at 6:30 PM ET. We’re kicking off this year’s series with a program on Flying Squirrels with Dr. Don Althoff, Certified Wildlife Biologist & Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Rio Grande. Dr. Althoff will share with us what he’s learned about these fascinating, elusive, and adorable mammals during his decades of research.

Tuesday, October 1 from 6:30 to 8 pm ET
Presenter: Dr. Don Althoff, Certified Wildlife Biologist & Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Conservation, University of Rio Grande
FREE

Join us virtually as we welcome Dr. Don Althoff for his presentation Southern Flying Squirrels: Facts and Fascination with a Woodland Wonder. Don started studying southern flying squirrels in 1995 and since that time has had the opportunity to monitor several local populations in southeast Ohio—especially during the past 15 years. He will share a combination of observations gleaned from having flying squirrels outfitted with radio telemetry collars, annual winter box checks for occupancy, and hard mast surveys (aka nut counts) to evaluate the link between their prime food resource and population trends. Details of a few incredible glides he has witnessed will be described along with some of the techniques he uses to handle squirrels to allow weighing, sexing, and ear-tagging. Natural history info such as diet and habitat will also be shared.

About Donald Althoff, Ph.D.

Dr. Althoff is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Rio Grande. He earned his B.S. in wildlife management from the Ohio State University, M.S. in Wildlife Sciences from the University of Nebraska, and Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from Pennsylvania State University. He has conducted research in forest and grassland ecosystems with the focus on a variety of species ranging from vertebrates and plants to nematodes. One of his main endeavors since the mid-1990s has been southern flying squirrel in southeast Ohio—including evaluation of an aging technique and the influence of annual hard mast production on local populations. That effort is a component of the Rio EcoMonitoring Project that provides hands-on learning opportunities for University of Rio Grande undergraduates participating in inventory and monitoring of local flora and fauna.

Zoom into Nature is the Land Conservancy’s popular virtual series that covers a wide range of topics. These webinars are held every couple of weeks on Tuesday evenings October through May.

Please use this Zoom link to register for Zoom into Nature: Flying Squirrels