The Kawarthas are a unique environment for studying North America's two parapatric flying squirrel species, because the region contains abundant populations of both. Using a long-term study (since 2001), we are evaluating the range boundary dynamics of these species, and testing for effects of a changing climate on their ecology and energetics. Our study encompasses a transect of field sites across the northern range boundary of southern flying squirrels in central Ontario. One of our objectives is to assess how range expansion of southern flying squirrels affects the distribution of northern flying squirrels through competition.

Images of hybrid northern and southern flying squirrels.

Images of flying squirrels foraging at night in tree cavities.