A Guelph, Ontario, student at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School has earned a spot at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton after conducting a unique experiment inspired by her family’s love of squirrels. Kira Egete, a 15-year-old student, initially started her project as a Grade 10 assignment but soon found herself delving into the world of squirrel vision.
Kira’s interest in squirrels was sparked by her family’s deep fascination with the animals since they moved to Canada in 2014. Wondering about how squirrels perceive the world, Kira discovered that they have dichromatic vision similar to dogs, meaning they struggle to differentiate certain colors. Her hypothesis that squirrels would be attracted to blue and yellow, akin to dogs, led her to design a backyard experiment to test squirrel responses to different colors.
Transforming her backyard into a controlled testing environment, Kira set up five pots, each a different color, and placed a peanut in each to observe squirrel behavior. Surprisingly, the results contradicted her initial hypothesis, showing that squirrels favored red and yellow over blue and green. Kira believes her findings could have practical applications in wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Impressed by Kira’s dedication, Alana Harrison, the school’s library technician, commended her enthusiasm for the project. Kira’s success at her school’s science fair led her to the regional competition, where she secured a spot at the national level. Excited for the opportunity to explore more of Canada and showcase her research, Kira remains passionate about science and hopes to pursue a career in STEM fields in the future.
In addition to her scientific endeavors, Kira is actively involved in charitable activities and extracurricular pursuits at her school. Her passion for understanding squirrel behavior has not only led her to national recognition but has also deepened her appreciation for these “adorable creatures.”