A high school student from Guelph, Ontario, has earned a spot in a national science fair competition by exploring her family’s interest in squirrels. Kira Egete, a 15-year-old student at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, shared that what began as a Grade 10 assignment has now led her to the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton, where she will join 400 other students for a week of competition and networking opportunities.
Kira’s project focuses on studying how squirrels react to different colors in a controlled backyard experiment. Her family’s fondness for squirrels, developed after moving to Canada from Serbia in 2014, sparked her curiosity about how these animals perceive the world. Inspired by the vision capabilities of dogs, which have dichromatic vision, Kira hypothesized that squirrels might be attracted to blue and yellow colors like dogs are. To test her theory, she set up five pots in her backyard, each painted a different color, and monitored squirrel interactions using a GoPro camera over multiple one-hour sessions.
After analyzing 50 successful trials, Kira discovered that squirrels showed a preference for red and yellow colors over blue and green, contrary to her initial hypothesis. These findings suggest that warmer colors may be more appealing to squirrels, offering potential practical applications in wildlife rehabilitation centers or deterring squirrels from specific areas.
Kira’s dedication and innovative approach to her project impressed Alana Harrison, the school’s library technician who oversees the science fair. Harrison commended Kira’s passion for squirrels and her proactive spirit in pursuing her research. Following success at the school fair and the regional competition, Kira is eager to showcase her work at the national level and explore new opportunities beyond Ontario.
Apart from her scientific endeavors, Kira is involved in various school activities, including running a charity and participating in robotics and track teams. Her experience with the squirrel study has fueled her interest in pursuing a career in STEM fields like engineering or medicine, with aspirations for entrepreneurship in the future. As she prepares for the Canada-Wide Science Fair, Kira remains captivated by the charm of squirrels, describing them as “adorable creatures” that continue to inspire her scientific pursuits.