A high school student from Guelph, Ontario, has earned a place at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton thanks to her innovative study on squirrels’ color perception.
From Family Hobby to Scientific Breakthrough
Kira Egete, a 15-year-old at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, transformed her family’s squirrel enthusiasm into a rigorous Grade 10 project. “It has honestly been surreal and crazy because this project just started as a Grade 10 culminating assignment,” Kira said.
Her family developed a passion for squirrels after immigrating from Serbia to Canada in 2014, where the animals were scarce. This curiosity led Kira to investigate how squirrels perceive colors. Squirrels possess dichromatic vision similar to dogs, distinguishing blue from yellow but struggling with red and green.
“I thought, ‘Why don’t squirrels have the same thing?'” Kira explained. “My hypothesis was that squirrels would be more attracted to blue and yellow just like dogs.”
Backyard Lab Tests Color Preferences
Kira converted her backyard into a controlled experiment site. She placed one peanut in each of five identical pots painted red, yellow, green, blue, or grey. Brightness levels stayed consistent via a lux meter app, scents were neutralized with sealant, and pot positions randomized to prevent bias.
A GoPro camera captured squirrel interactions during 50 one-hour trials. Analysis of approach order yielded unexpected results: squirrels favored red and yellow, avoiding grey most.
“My hypothesis was wrong. Squirrels preferred red and yellow, and least preferred grey,” Kira noted. These findings indicate a preference for warmer colors over cooler ones, differing from dog vision patterns.
Practical applications include using red and yellow items in wildlife rehab for engagement or grey feeders to deter squirrels.
Journey to the National Stage
Kira’s project triumphed at her school fair among 70 participants, advancing her to the Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair, where she clinched a spot among 400 students at the Edmonton event later this month.
Alana Harrison, the school’s library technician overseeing the fair, commended her drive. “She came to me quite early on saying she was fascinated by squirrels. From there, she just ran with it.”
“There were judges coming to me, and asking questions and saying that I did a good job. That was a great feeling,” Kira recalled of the regional judging.
Harrison added, “I couldn’t be more proud. It’s just so wonderful because obviously she has a lot of passion for her project, and to see her have this level of success is just incredible.”
Beyond Science: A Well-Rounded Student
Kira excels beyond science, leading charity Hugs and Hand, competing in robotics and track, and engaging in school activities. “She is an absolute gift to the school,” Harrison said.
The project deepened her STEM interest. “I do plan to pursue something in STEM, potentially engineering or maybe medicine,” she shared. “One day, I hope to end up in entrepreneurship.”
Excited for Edmonton, Kira anticipates new experiences, including Canada’s mountains. After two months observing squirrels, she remains captivated: “They’re still adorable creatures.”
