The results of last Fall’s First Annual White Squirrel Count have now been tabulated.   This should not be interpreted as a census but rather as an estimate of the percentage of Brevard’s squirrels that are white.  One of every 4-5 gray squirrels within the city limits is of the white color phase.    This proportion, however, varies widely from one part of the city to another.  The central part of Brevard was divided into 35 sectors with Brevard Middle School and Brevard High School marking the northern and southern most points, respectively.  The study area is bordered by Probart Street on the west and Neely Road on the east.   The percentages were lowest in some of these fringe areas although the southeastern boundary sectors surrounding Brevard Elementary School had some of the highest frequencies of the white phase.    The overall highest percentage of white squirrels was found in Sector 17 (see map) off the southwest corner of Main and Broad Streets, right smack dab in the middle of downtown Brevard.   This count was the first of what will be an annual fall event to monitor the stability of the white squirrel population.   In order to remain manageable, it had to be restricted to the central Brevard area.  However, as part of a larger study of the biology of Brevard’s white squirrels being proposed by the newly formed White Squirrel Research Institute (under Brevard College’s Division of Environmental Studies, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences), we are interested in collecting information about the squirrels distribution throughout the region.  We know that squirrels of similar color and markings are found from Lake Toxaway to Hendersonville but we are just beginning to fill in the gaps between.  If you have sightings you would like to share, please contact Bob Glesener (Division of Environmental Studies, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences, or 883-8292 Extension 2301, or glesener@brevard.edu).
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