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The research project attempts to locate the most ideal living conditions for southern flying squirrels, by prioritizing specific elements such as food and shelter that are key in their choice of habitat. Justification for the study lies in the need to establish an understanding of the importance of these habitat preferences and requirements in the sites that are monitored, in regards to increasing the chances of identification. The research methods incorporate a multifaceted approach with, the use of soil samples to measure fungal counts and the amount of food supply available, and the meticulous measurement of tree sizes and opening diameters for the use of nesting sites that are less susceptible to competition and the effects of weather. These natural variables are regarded to be clear indicators of prime habitat for the southern flying squirrel. In the end the project expects to identify the precise sites that exhibit these most optimal living conditions and would be expected to have a higher likelihood of sustaining southern flying squirrels, thus allowing for more valuable insight for future research into the existence of southern flying squirrels in Kansas.