But the object may not move and then curiosity takes over. The squirrel descends and approaches tentatively, its ever useful tail spread forward protectively over its entire body. The object under observation is sniffed to determine if it is edible. If so, squirrel will eat. If not, squirrel jerks its tail in irritation for wasting time and moves on.
Grays are very adaptive to their surroundings, be they tree-lined streets, farm land, or parks.
Although they are far from rare today, their numbers were far greater in the time of the pristine forest. They flourished amid the food bounty of mature chestnut, oak, walnut, hickory, and beech. The American Chestnut Foundation.