Urban encroachment threatens fox squirrels habitat

For thousands of years, fox squirrels have been found in the state’s forests.  But today urban encroachment threatens their habitats.  A member of Clemson’s Forestry and Wildlife Resources Program Team believes fox squirrels can become abundant again.  Corey Heaton wants to reverse the impact urban sprawl is having on the fox squirrel population. To make room for commercial development, many longleaf pine trees have been cut down and, officials believe, that has led to a fewer fox squirrels.  Stands of longleaf pines are being planted on the grounds of the Sandhill Research and Education Center to provide a habitat for fox squirrels.  If the project succeeds, it could become a model for the rest of the state. The latest survey in 2014 showed the sightings of 718 individual fox squirrels. That was 312 fewer than the survey two years earlier.