Apparently not enough. That's why a University of Illinois at Chicago professor hopes you'll give him some of your time to help him learn more. Joel Brown, a UIC biologist and squirrel expert, says many questions about squirrel life and behavior remain unanswered. That's where the public can help contribute to Brown's research. Few data exist on squirrel population distribution, so Brown and his student assistants are eagerly soliciting contributions.
Some neighborhoods are well surveyed, while many others remain untouched.
With the mild weather of early spring upon us, yet complete tree foliage still a few weeks away, now is a good time to spot squirrels. Most squirrels in Chicago treat humans as vending machines, so they're likely to come up to you. In addition to the specific questions, the survey allows space for comments and information about such things as squirrel color variation and unusual behavior. It's too soon to speculate on what contributed observer data may suggest about squirrels overall, said Brown. The data may help me be better prepared to provide answers, both to the general public and for scientific journals.