Squirrel is a phrase that is mostly used to specify a kind of familiar long-fluffy-tailed tree-climbing rodent.
Nonetheless, tree squirrels are partly one of the true squirrel family.
Others also include prairie dogs, chipmunks, and groundhogs. The tarpan provides general facts about the tree squirrels.
Classifications
Tree Squirrels
- Flying squirrels (northern, southern)
- Pine squirrels (Douglas, red)
- Large tree squirrels (western gray, eastern grey, fox, tassel-eared)
Size
The average size of a tree squirrel is .33-1.5 lb. in weight and 8-20” long.
Lifespan
Squirrels in their natural habitat can live up to 6 years.
Squirrel Geography
There are more than 100 species of tree squirrels, and except for Antarctica, they inhabit all the world’s continents.
Squirrels’ doggedness has made them some of the most resilient animals on the planet. This factor has allowed them to maintain some fame even though most of their natural habitat has become urbanized.
Squirrel Habitats
As their name indicates, tree squirrels are arboreal. They can be found making homes inside tree cavities or in leaf nests.
All tree squirrels depend heavily on the abundance of mast (dry fruit from trees and woody plants) – especially nuts and acorns- for survival. It’s no surprise to find squirrels around but bearing trees.
Squirrel Diet
A squirrel’s diet consists of masts like walnuts, acorns, seeds, or hickory nuts. The mast is so essential to squirrels that from September through March, a squirrel would require about 1.5 lbs of mast every week to survive.
Since the digestive systems of squirrels aren’t designed to absorb cellulose, they can only feed on twigs, green plants, and bark when there isn’t a must to eat.
Some favorite squirrel foods include:
- Fruits
- Sunflower seeds
- Bird seeds
- Walnuts
- Acorns
- Mushrooms
- Berries
Squirrel Behavior
Nesting
Tree squirrels make homes from twigs, bark, leaves, and available nesting materials. They can be seen nesting in tree cavities or leaf nests.
Activity
Squirrels are diurnal. They are very active during the day. Unlike other animals in the wild, squirrels do not hibernate but typically spend long hours nesting during winter.
Food Hunting
In warmer seasons, when food is surplus, squirrels hoard (cache) food like acorns for the winter. They would usually dig and bury their food in small holes. They sometimes use abandoned flowerpots, burrows, or other available places to hide their food for a later date.
Communication
Squirrels are exceptionally vocal – they chatter, bark, purr, and scream to communicate with each other. They also interact through body language, stomping their feet and moving their tails.
Identifying Squirrel Damage
Since squirrels are diurnal, there’s every possibility that you would find them prancing about close by. However, you may not always be at home to witness their presence or how they may be redesigning your attic or rooftop.
Here are some signs to help identify squirrels’ problems;
- Damaged wood siding
- Stolen birdseed
- Chewed-up electrical wires
Interesting Facts About Squirrels
- A squirrel’s teeth don’t stop growing. This is why they continue to gnaw and chew, so their teeth remain locked.
- Squirrels use their tails to gain balance through electrical lines and treetops. Their tails also serve as a parachute to help break their fall. It might interest you that Squirrels can fall up to 100 feet without injury.
- Even though squirrels keep food in several locations within the ranges they can cover, they don’t always remember where these foods are buried. Most of these seeds and nuts end up germinating, turning into trees. This is one reason why these rodents are known to play a critical role in growing and maintaining populations of forest trees.
- Squirrels usually pretend to bury their food to mislead other animals and protect their food stash. They typically dig up empty holes and cover them with leaves, making other onlooking animals think they have food there.