A high school student from Guelph, Ontario, has earned a spot in a national science fair competition by turning her family’s interest in squirrels into a unique experiment. Kira Egete, a 15-year-old student at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, shared her excitement about the unexpected journey that started as a Grade 10 assignment.
Kira will be joining 400 other students in Edmonton at the Canada-Wide Science Fair later this month, where opportunities for scholarships and awards await the participants. Her project, which involved studying how squirrels react to different colors, stemmed from her family’s newfound love for these creatures after moving to Canada in 2014.
Driven by curiosity about how squirrels perceive the world, Kira discovered that they have dichromatic vision similar to dogs, which affects their ability to distinguish colors. Her experiment transformed her backyard into a controlled testing environment, where she observed squirrels’ responses to red, yellow, green, blue, and grey colors.
The results of Kira’s study contradicted her initial hypothesis, revealing that squirrels showed a preference for red and yellow colors while avoiding grey. This finding challenges conventional wisdom based on dog vision studies, suggesting potential practical applications in wildlife rehabilitation centers or bird feeder setups.
Impressed by Kira’s dedication, Alana Harrison, the school’s library technician who oversees the science fair, commended her initiative and passion for squirrels. Kira’s project advanced from the school fair to the regional level, leading her to secure a spot at the national competition.
Apart from her scientific endeavors, Kira is actively involved in charitable activities and extracurriculars at her school. Her ambition to pursue a career in STEM fields like engineering or medicine reflects her growing interest in science. As she looks forward to the upcoming competition in Edmonton, Kira remains enamored with the adorable creatures that sparked her scientific journey.
