Volunteers are needed to help conduct the 14th Annual Brevard Squirrel Count. Begun in 1997 by Brevard College students and faculty, the Squirrel Count, now under the supervision of the Heart of Brevard, is a community effort to monitor the abundance and distribution of our unique white variant of the Eastern Gray Squirrel. Although white squirrels can be spotted from Cashiers to Hendersonville and from Enka/Candler to the South Carolina state line, the official study area consists of a three square mile site centered on the Transylvania County Courthouse (roughly following the original city limits). This study area has been sub-divided into 35 sectors, approximately 50 acres each. It is hoped that volunteers or organizations will adopt one of these sectors and complete three counts at their convenience between October and December. Each count takes about one hour and consists of walking at a leisurely pace along sidewalks and greenways through the assigned sector and recording all squirrels, white and gray, observed. Maps, datasheets, and detailed instructions will be provided.

Results of previous counts and other information about Brevard’s white squirrel can be found at www.brevardnc.org/research-institute. Last year’s count estimated that approximately 36.7% of Brevard’s squirrels were white, the highest yet observed, but not far from the thirteen -year average of 27.4%.

To view the study area, click here.  To access detailed maps of the individual Sectors, click here.

If you are interested in participating in this year’s count, please contact Lynne Warner of the Heart of Brevard at 884-3278 or email.