I'm a graduate student whose thesis project focuses on conservation of the Western gray squirrel population in Griffith Park. The purpose of this project is to record observations of Western gray squirrels and Eastern fox squirrels within Griffith Park to see where the Western gray squirrels are distributed relative to the Eastern fox squirrels. This information will be used for placement of non-invasive "hairtubes" that can collect Western gray squirrel hair for genetic analysis. The results of the genetic analysis will show how much genetic diversity is present within the Western gray squirrel population. Knowing the genetic diversity is important to preserving and managing the population. less ↑