| Summary: | There are few quick, precise induces for predicting population size of semifossorial mammals. We assessed the utility of powder-tracking and infrared thermal imaging to predict population size in the Arctic ground squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) in the boreal forest of southwestern Yukon. Density estimated from livetrapping was strongly and linearly correlated with both indices (r = 0.81 for powder-tracking; ,. = 091 for infrared imaging) The slope of the relationship between density and the infrared index (0.10) deviated from a .lope of 1. The slope of the relationship between density and the powder-tracking index (082) did not deviate from a slope of 1, but our power to detect departures from this slope using this index was low (0.10). We recommend infrared imaging and powder-tracking for monitoring population size of semifossorial mammal.
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