Flying Squirrel Research Opportunity

  Canada

Nova Scotia

Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Inquire for specific dates.

Description: With this project, live-trapping, PIT tags, and nest boxes are used to collect life history data for flying squirrels. Volunteers would also help on other research projects, including one that is focused on assessing old forests on privately owned land. This would involve communicating with landowners, assessing their old forests and offering management advice.

Flying squirrels may be sensitive to fragmentation and good indicators of landscape connectivity because they need mature trees to climb for gliding and to sleep in during the day. To understand the connectivity requirements of flying squirrels in Nova Scotia, local life history data as required to determine how long they live, how many young they have and how they disperse.

Highlights: This volunteer opportunity is found in Kempt, Nova Scotia, just a few kilometers outside the beautiful Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site. This is a great chance for you to learn about and contribute to important research, and to meet lots of interesting individuals in this sector. The woodlands here are wild and the locals are friendly! We offer kitchen facilities, living quarters, bathroom facilities, and high speed internet all free of charge for all of our volunteers. Don't be shy, drop us a line!

Qualifications: Applicants should be familiar with various ecological principles, and should preferably have some experience or education in wildlife management and conservation. However, some training is available on site. A positive attitude and a very keen personality are essential.

Cost in US$: 0

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: A typical volunteer at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute is very keen on learning and contributing to our ongoing research efforts. The volunteer understands that our research is very important for diverse ecological, social, and economic reasons. The volunteer is dedicated, has a positive attitude and is eager to help.

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Canada Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 2

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Resume

Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute's Mission Statement: The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) is a non-profit cooperative with a mandate to advance collaborative research, monitoring, and management that promotes sustainable use of natural resources in southwestern Nova Scotia. The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) operates a field station in Kempt, Queens County which provides office work space and basic accommodations for researchers carrying out studies in the area. MTRI is a co-operative of land owners and researchers working together with a common mission and vision. MTRI's Mission: To advance collaborative research, monitoring, and management that promotes sustainable use of resources and biodiversity conservation in the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve. MTRI's Vision: Creative and innovative member-directed research of the natural world and the human management of natural resources. MTRI envisions research openly shared with the public that promotes biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve (SNBR).

Year Founded: 2004