Squirrel Wildlife Rehabilitation FAQ Q. I have found baby squirrels, what do I do? A. The first thing to do is get them stabilized while you look for a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If you send a blank email to: the Emergency Care Information will be sent to you automatically. This will tell you what you should and should not do until you get in touch with a rehabber in your area. You can also read the page on Stabilization for information on stabilizing the baby until you reach a rehabber. The next thing is to start looking for a licensed rehabber by going to the Squirrel Connections page. Q. Where do I put the baby while looking for a rehabber? Can I leave it outside? A. You should NEVER leave the baby outside, they should be brought in the house. If you are concerned about pets/children, you can place the baby squirrel in a small box with non-frayed toweling and put them in a separate room in your house where you can close the door.

The box should be placed on a heating pad and if you will send for the Emergency Care Instructions by sending a blank email to: you will get all of the information that you need to get the baby warm and stabilized until you get in touch with a rehabber. Q. Some of the squirrels in my yard seem to have large bumps on them... what could this be? A. If it is late summer and early fall, more than likely you are seeing warbles. These are a larvae that bury under the skin of the squirrel and other rodents. If you look very closely at the lump you should see an air hole. The larvae uses this hole to breathe and excrete from. They can stay in the squirrel for 3-6 weeks until they are fully developed, then they will leave. The lumps should heal over and go away and the fur should grow back. While they are uncomfortable for the squirrel, it really does no long term harm. You should never attempt to remove these on your own. If in removing the larvae you should break it, it excretes a toxin that can kill the squirrel. You can check out this web site on Squirrel Fibromatosis vs.

Bot Fly Infestation (Link will open in a new window) which has photos of what they look like as well as comparison photos to squirrel with Fibromatosis. If after viewing the photos you determine your squirrel has Fibromatosis you should get in touch with a so it can receive the proper treatment. Q. What do I feed the baby that I have found? A. You DO NOT feed them anything. You should get them warm first by following the instructions on the Stabilization page. This information will also tell you how you can rehydrate them and then you need to Locate A Wildlife Rehabilitator . Q. Why can't I feed the baby as soon as I find it? I know it has to be hungry. A. Feeding can actually cause death by pulling fluids from the system of a severly dehydrated animal in order to process the food that you feed it. It must be determined if the baby is dehydrated first before giving any food. Q. But I have milk in the refrigerator, canned milk, human infant formula or a special milk that says it is for wildlife, can I feed them that? A. NO!

Never feed wildlife cows milk under any circumstances unless you want to sign the death warrant for the baby you have found. The babies require a special formula and anything made for humans is not acceptable. The "formulas" that you can buy in pet stores or discount stores that say they are for wildlife are not acceptable either. The milk comparison below is for the Grey Squirrels milk, Esbilac and cow's milk so you can see the differences and see that Esbilac is by far the best choice. Grey Squirrel Milk Q. Why is a cat bite deadly to wildlife? A. Cats carry a bacteria in their saliva called pasturella. If any wild animal is exposed to the saliva from a cat, the bacteria affects their central nervous system. Unless the proper antibiotics are administered in the first 12-24 hours, the animal will eventually die. Q. My kids really want to raise the baby themselves... why can't they? A. I always wonder WHO the adults are in the house when I hear this one. It is illegal for a non-licensed wildlife rehabilitator to possess wildlife. So are you going to teach your kids that it is ok to break the law?

If you are found with an illegal animal, there is a good chance that Fish and Wildlife will confiscate the animal, euthanize it, and there may also be fines and criminal charges filed. There are diseases and viruses that can be passed on to your children if they do not know how to protect themselves. Squirrels will pee and poop anywhere when they have to go. The smell is rather strong and difficult to get out of carpet and clothing. Do your kids have 12 weeks of their time, day and night, to spend caring for the baby? They do require feedings every 2-4 hours, depending on the age of the baby, around the clock. Someone is not going to get any sleep for 12 weeks. As they get older, the squirrels will bite. If your child is bitten, be prepared to euthanize the squirrel and have it tested for rabies and pay for the post exposure rabies shots which run about $1,500.00 - $2,000.00 for the whole series. Are you prepared to explain death to your children when the baby dies? If the baby is not cared for properly and does not receive the proper diet, it will die.

See Metabolic Bone Disease . Are you prepared to build suitable caging and housing for this squirrel to get it ready for release? Do you know the techniques for preparing a squirrel for release? You cannot just put them outside when they are old enough to be released. There is a process that we go through to get them ready to be released. A. Use extreme caution that you do not get bitten by the adult. If you have gardening gloves, put those on. Get a box that is a little bigger than the squirrel. Get a large towel and a soft broom or a piece of cardboard. Get near the squirrel and throw the towel over the squirrel making sure to cover the eyes. Put the box on its side right next to the squirrel. Gently nudge the squirrel into the box with the soft broom or piece of cardboard. Slowly and gently roll the squirrel into the box as you turn it upright. Close the lid. Get the squirrel to the closest wildlife rehabilitator ASAP. There are some injuries that can be successfully treated IF the rehabber gets the squirrel soon enough. The longer you wait to get them to someone, the harder it is going to be to treat the injuries.

You wouldn't wait to take your children to the Emergency Room would you? If you can do so safely, this is a good time to check and see if it is a female that is nursing babies by looking at the teats or you can let the wildlife rehabilitator check this for you. If you or the rehabilitator determine that she is a nursing mom, please keep your eyes and ears open for a few days for crying babies. They will start to look for mom after a few days and most fall out of the nest. Please do NOT climb any trees looking for the babies. Q. What is a squirrel nest called? A. The nest that you see up in the tree is called a "drey." They are typically made out of small twigs, leaves and other leaf-like materials. The interior of the nest is made soft by use of fur or other soft material and are usually located in the top third of a tree. You can see pictures of the interior of a squirrel nest on the Inside A Squirrel Nest page. Squirrels will also build a "den" inside the cavity of a tree. They usually use old woodpecker holes or other cavities that occur naturally in some trees over time.

Caution: Please use caution as to what you leave laying around your yard. We are getting in more squirrels every year that have their tails tied together with string, twine or fishing line. The mom will find any of these and use them to make the nest with. While growing up the babies usually get their tails tangled up in it and never get free of it. They will fall out of the nest still tied together. So please check around your yard and make sure that you do not have anything they could borrow to use in their nest that would be harmful to the babies. Q. My son/daughter is doing a school report on squirrels and we would like to use the photos in the report, is this allowed? A. I do allow the pictures to be used in school reports as long as you ask first and get the proper credit to be given in the report for the photos. They are copyrighted and the proper copyright information must accompany their use. If you let me know which photos you need, I will send them to you via email. If you ask to use photos that I do not own the copyright to, I will ask the person that does own them before giving you permission and the copyright information that is to accompany those photos.

Thank you for your cooperation. Q. I sent you an email to request help and never got a reply. WHY? A. If you sent us a request for help, or sent for one of the auto-responders and did not get a reply, it is because the reply was returned to us by your ISP for one reason or another. Usually it is because the "reply to" address in your email program is not set properly. We have no way of getting in touch with you if we do not have the proper email address. We apologize for this, but it is up to YOU to set the proper "reply to" address in your email program so that we can get back in touch with you. You should talk to your ISP to get the proper settings. Ground Squirrel Information - Squirrel Information Squirrel Information Ground Squirrel Information RICHARDSON'S GROUND SQUIRRELS / Original source of information - Richardson's ground squirrels are known by a variety of names, including gophers, prairie gophers, yellow gophers, picket pins, flickertails, and tawny American marmots. They are sometimes confused with their relatives the prairie dogs.

But whatever they may be called, Richardson's ground squirrels are still the same, delightful animals they have always been. A member of the squirrel family in the order Rodentia, Richardson's ground squirrels make their home in the northern plains of North America. They are diurnal, obligate hibernators that live out most of their lives in underground burrows. Some people seek to exterminate Richardson's ground Squirrels as agricultural pests, where as others seek them out as pets. Because Richardson's Ground squirrels play an important role as a prey item for many carnivores and raptors and in creating microhabitats for other organisms such as burrowing owls, many people are interested in maintaining their status as a key element of the prairie ecosystem. They are also used for scientific and medical research. GROUND SQUIRRELS AS PETS People who do acquire a Richardson�s ground squirrel must assume full responsibility for the care of that animal throughout its lifetime. These animals CANNOT be released back into the wild successfully because they can only survive as part of the family unit from which they came.

They will certainly die an unpleasant death after release, either from harassment from ground squirrels who are not their kin, from predators, or from exposure through not having a burrow system. When caring for a ground squirrel, most of the supplies needed can be found on this web site. Cages designed for medium-sized animals such as Prairie dogs or Chinchillas are ideal. Other necessities include a food dish, water bottle, CareFresh bedding, and a wooden hide away for nesting. Cages and food bowls must be cleaned regularly, and uneaten produce removed daily before it spoils. Veterinary care is also recommended. DIET Richardson's ground squirrels are predominantly herbivores, with vegetation composing 80-100% of their total diet. The remainder is comprised mostly of insects. Richardson�s ground squirrels do not kill for food, but they sometimes nibble on easy-to-obtain meat such as road kills. Richardson's ground squirrels primarily eat leaves, flowers and seeds, though the precise type of vegetation eaten depends on where they live. Because so much of the native prairie has been destroyed by human agricultural practices, it is now difficult to assess the natural and preferred diet.

Forage grasses and legumes are major food items on overgrazed pastures in eastern North Dakota. In cultivated areas, where little native vegetation remains, Richardson�s ground squirrels have no choice other than to eat the seeds and seedlings of domesticated cereals such as wheat, barley and oats. Captive ground squirrels can be fed a staple diet of commercial food with a protein content of 18%-20% such as Exotic Nutrition's Squirrel Diet supplemented daily by raw whole oats and fresh vegetables. Chew toys should be made available for gnawing. Ground squirrels feeding in cultivated areas tend to be larger and bear more live young than those feeding in native grasslands, presumably because more high quality food is available in crop fields than on native grassland. HIBERNATION Richardson's ground squirrels hibernate alone in a special chamber called a hibernaculum. The hibernaculum chamber is initially constructed as an excavation off the main burrow system, but that connection is plugged off with soil when the animal enters hibernation. The hibernaculum system is a closed system consisting of a hibernaculum chamber, a drain tunnel to carry away moisture, and an exit tunnel that reaches almost to the surface.

In spring, the animal emerges above ground by connecting the exit tunnel to the surface. The hibernaculum is a grass-filled chamber in which the ground squirrel curls into a ball with its nose tucked between the hind legs and enters a state of torpor. Adults hibernate for 7-9 months, juvenile females for 6-7 months, and juvenile males for 4-5 months. During torpor, a ground squirrel's body temperature drops to that of the surrounding soil. By late winter, body temperature may fall as low at 0�C during torpor bouts. Respiration slows, as does the heartbeat. Torpor is not continuous, as ground squirrels arouse periodically throughout hibernation. Male ground squirrels tend to cache food, such as grass seeds, which they carry to the hibernaculum in cheek pouches. Seeds are cached under the grass bedding in the hibernaculum chamber. This food store is used at the end of the hibernation season when male ground squirrels remain in their burrows at normal body temperature for several days to permit testicular recrudescence.

Males rarely exhaust food caches before emergence, but they do not return to the hibernaculum to eat remaining seeds after they have emerged. Sexual Differences in Behavior As would be expected, the majority of differences between male and female Richardson's ground squirrel behavior relate to reproduction. Sexes differ in behaviors related to male's intrasexual competition for mates, the male-biased operational sex ratio, and the sexual difference between the effective length of the mating season. During the mating season, male ground squirrels move longer distances, occupy larger ranges, engaged in more injury-producing fights, feed less, lose more body weight, and spend less time on burrow maintenance than females. Males are less sedentary than females and shift their home ranges on a daily basis during the mating season in relation to daily changes in the availability of estrous females. Adult male ground squirrels immerge into hibernation earlier than adult females, whereas juvenile males immerge later than juvenile females. All male ground squirrels emerge from hibernation earlier than females, regardless of age.

The timing of hibernation is based on different criteria, with females timing their emergence in spring to coincide with vegetative growth during lactation and males timing their emergence to coincide with what the females are doing. Male Richardson's ground squirrels disperse more often and further than females, form no lasting social bonds, and take no part in offspring care. Also, males show little fidelity to burrows during the mating season. In contrast, females usually settle near their female kin and form life-long social bonds with their closest relatives such as mother, sisters, aunts, and nieces. Male ground squirrels show a tendency to cache large amounts of food in the hibernaculum, whereas females do not. Males spend less time in the physiological state of torpor during hibernation than females. Communication The basic 'vocabulary' of Richardson's ground squirrels consists of a variety of squeals, chirps, chirrs, whistles, and teeth clatters. They also give two distinct alarm calls, which humans can easily learn to recognize. The first alarm call is for aerial predators, which tend to approach rapidly in a straight line. It consists of a short, low-pitched chirp that changes frequency.

Upon hearing this call, ground squirrels run for cover. The other alarm call is for terrestrial predators, which tend to approach relatively slowly. This one consists of a long, high-pitched whistle with a constant frequency. When this call is heard, ground squirrels stand up and scan the area. Litter Size Female Richardson's ground squirrels produce a single litter each year, and if they lose their litter, they are incapable of breeding again until the following year. They give birth underground after a 23-day gestation period. The litter is born overnight in the chamber which the female uses for sleeping during late pregnancy. Litters remain permanently underground for 29-30 days, and the mother is the only ground squirrel who has contact with the infants. Mothers sleep with their infants at night and visit them several times during the day to suckle them. Mothers raise the young on their own, with no assistance from the father or any of her female kin. Litter size at birth is usually 6 to 8 young, but extremes of 4 to 14 have been noted.

Unless the litter is killed by predators such as long-tailed weasels or badgers, most mothers are able to rear all offspring to weaning age. Consequently litter size at first emergence above ground is also usually 6 to 8 young. At birth, infants weigh an average of 6.5 grams. They are hairless with ears and eyes closed, digits fused, and teeth unerupted. Helpless, they are totally dependent on their mother. The first hints of fur begin to appear after four days, and fore digits separate at 13 days. By 15 days of age, the infants begin to look like miniature ground squirrels but they are still incapable of locomotion, and the eyes are still closed. By 22-24 days, ears and eyes are open, teeth are present, and the fur coat is well developed. At the age of 29-30 days and weighing between 65 and 85 grams, the young first emerge from their natal burrow. They immediately begin eating solid food, soon becoming nutritionally independent of their mother. At 50 days of age, juveniles molt the baby fur and grow in their adult fur coat.

Young from large litters are relatively small, yet they emerge above ground at the same age as do larger juveniles from small litters, and make the transition from milk to solid food at the same age. This indicates that age is a more important factor than size in making the transition to solid food and above ground activity. Exotic Nutrition� supports legitimate scientific research projects with financial donations to help advance the health and well-being of Sugar Gliders and other exotic mammals. A percentage of the profit from sales goes toward funding of these scientific projects. We hope you will join us in our quest to advance research in the exotic mammal health care fields. The Exotic Nutrition Pet Company specializes in the manufacture and distribution of exotic mammal feeds, supplements, and accessories. Our facility is located in Southeastern Virginia. We have always prided ourselves in meeting the needs of our exotic mammal friends when they are kept in captivity, and have always strived to bring the finest quality animal diets and accessories to conscience pet owners worldwide. Ensuring the health and well-being of your captive exotic is our main concern. We are, and will continue to be, a company whose objective is to deliver the best possible products and services at an affordable price.

Our company stands behind the products that we manufacture, and continuously monitors quality and freshness to offer you, and your pets, the highest quality foods, supplements, and accessories for exotics available. Some of the Colleges and Institutions that use our products .... Bucknell University /PA * University of Louisville Stony Brook University/NY * Peel Zoo / Australia * University of Maryland * UCLA /Lab Animal Research * Jungle Island / Miami Fl. * Kansas City Zoo / MO * National Aquarium Baltimore * United States Center for Disease Control * Heritage Park Zoo / AZ * University of Rhode Island * Missouri State University * PETA / Norfolk VA. * University of Louisiana * Broadbent Wildlife Sanctuary /Ky * University of Montreal * Big Cat Habitat & Santuary / FL * University of Kentucky * Port Defiance Zoo & Aquarium / WA * Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary / AL * Americas Teaching Zoo / CA * Harvard University / Cambridge MA * University of British Columbia / Canada * Washington State University * University of Kansas Med Center Lab Animal * University of Pennsylvania * Heritage Park Zoological Association * Sunset Zoo / Manhattan KS.

* Baton Rouge Zoo / LA * Humane Animal Welfare Society / WI * Guadeloupe Zoo / West Indies * Utica Zoo of Utica / NY * Liberty Science Center / Animal Husbandry * Roos-N-More Zoo / NV * Shedd Aquarium / Chicago * NC Aquarium / Roanoke Island * Blue Ridge Wildlife Center / VA * Seoul National University / Bio. Science * Th�ringer Zoopark / Germany * Guadeloupe Zoo / France * Sea World / San Diego * Pittsburg State University * Native Animal Rescue / CA * Humane Society of Washington County / MD * Arizona State University Animal Care * Foothills Wildlife Research Facility / CO * Zoo Atlanta * UCLA * Indian Creek Zoo / MI * North East Ohio Medical University * University of Rochester * University of Arizona / Department of Entomology * Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge / FL * Charlotte Nature Museum / NC * San Diego Zoo / Safari Park * Veterinary Care Specialists / MI * Highlands Nature Sanctuary / OH * Shearwaters Kauai Humane Society / HI * Virginia Aquarium Virginia Beach Va.

* The Wildlife Conservation and Education Center NJ * El Paso Zoo / TX * Atlantic City Aquarium / NJ * LSU School of Veterinary Medicine * Animal Medical Center of Forney / TX * Squirrel Creek Wildlife Rescue / CO * American Museum of Natural History NY * University of California / Qureshely Research Lab * Sea World (Bird Dept.) San Diego, CA * Dakota Zoo / Bismark, ND * Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society / Canada * Black Pine Animal Sanctuary / IN * Eastern Wyoming College * Alexandria Zoological Park / LA * Tanganika Wildlife Park / KS * Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, MS * Edenton National Fish Hatchery * Penn State University /Biology Dept * University of Western Ontario * Pocono Snake & Animal Farm * Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center * Department of Biological Sciences Texas Tech University * Yosemite National Park * Pocono Snake & Animal Farm / PA * Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine /St.Kitts * Pittsburg State University(KS)/Biology Dept * University of Missouri / Veterinary * Texas Tech University * Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium * Purdue University / Biology Dept. * El Paso Zoo / El Paso TX * Hutchinson Zoo / KS * Northeastern University * Sandy Bottom Nature Park / Hampton Va.

* University of Kansas /Lab Animal Resources *Virginia Zoo / Norfolk Va. Featured Products The Differences in Male and Female Squirrels The Differences in Male and Female Squirrels The Differences in Male and Female Squirrels April 28, 2010 By: Carlos Mano Squirrels are a part of almost every American neighborhood. Squirrels are rodents, but people treat them very differently than they treat rats. It is hard to imagine someone sitting on a park bench and tossing popcorn to a rat. Squirrels seem cute and comical--this undoubtedly contributes to their appeal. Squirrels are also the cleanest of the rodents. The male spends twice as much time grooming himself as the female does. Squirrel Gender Differences Squirrel Genitalia Males and females have different looking genitalia. Squirrels grow to maturity in one year. Before that, they mostly stay hidden from view. From a distance, males and females look the same. Only by turning them over can you see the physical difference between males and females. If you see nothing, the squirrel is female. Male squirrel genitalia is similar to male dog or cat genitalia.

Child Rearing If an adult squirrel is accompanied by baby squirrels, the adult is a female. If you see an adult squirrel accompanied by baby squirrels, the adult is female. Male squirrels take absolutely no interest in children and move out of the home nest until the children leave. Female squirrels are devoted parents who spend all their time protecting, teaching, and playing with their offspring. When the children mature and go out on their own, the female seems equally content to resume her close relationship with her mate. The Leisurely Male Squirrels in poorly constructed nests are males. If you see a squirrel in a poorly constructed nest (or drey) high in a tree, it is a male squirrel. A family drey is well constructed and near the center of a tree. The male constructs a simple drey high in the tree for his use alone. When the children are small, the adult male spends all of his free time in his private drey. Mating Squirrels live in a nuclear family. Squirrels live in a nuclear family with no connection to kin. The children (pups, kits, or kittens) are born blind and nude in the spring.

They stay in the family drey until mid or late summer when their mother starts taking them out on little excursions. In late summer the kits leave home and start families own. In late summer and early fall you might see the squirrel mating ritual, which consists of a pair of squirrels running through the treetops. The one doing the chasing is the male, and the chased squirrel is female. Like cute animals? Follow Cuteness.com on Facebook for more AWWs and LOLs. Related Articles Gray Squirrel Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis Ord) From: Saunders, D. A. 1988. Adirondack Mammals. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 216pp. Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae Description: The gray squirrel’s appearance differs seasonally. The yellowish brown summer coat becomes thicker and gray in winter, the pelage of some individuals strikingly silver-gray. Underparts and eye-rings are buffy brown to white, usually lighter in winter. The backs of the ears, tan to cinnamon in color, have white tips in the winter and bold, conspicuous white spots at their bases and adjacent parts of the head.

The bushy, 18-25 cm (7-10 in) tail, which is about half the total length of this 48-51 cm (18-20 in) rodent, is made up of long, wavy hairs, each banded alternately with brown and black at the base and broadly tipped with white. Seasonal color variation is a function of fading and molting. Additional individual color variation results in brown, black, silvery-gray color phases. Albinos are more frequent than in many rodents. Adults weigh 454-681 g (1-1.5 lb). Range and Habitat: The deciduous forests of the eastern half of North America provide optimum habitat for the gray squirrel, but the range includes portions of the mixed forest in southern Canada. This species in the Adirondacks reaches its greatest abundance along the Champlain Valley, and the eastern and southeastern areas of the Park, e.g., along the western shore of Lake George, areas that have a greater abundance of oaks.

To varying extents, the gray squirrel resides in the old-growth hardwoods, and mixed hardwood-coniferous forests of the Adirondacks at elevations up to 915 m (3000 ft), ranging in abundance from rare to common, the latter often occurring in towns, cities, parks, and more importantly, near residential bird feeding stations. Some populations, like that at Blue Mountain Lake, would probably not exist without the presence of bird feeding stations. Merriam commented on the rarity of the gray squirrel in the Adirondack interior, rare enough to report individual observations by hunters and guides. He attributed their sightings to the irregular immigrations of this species. Before the large scale destruction of the eastern deciduous forests, gray squirrels were famous for their mass immigrations which may have been caused by population pressure following large most crops and/or failure of the mast crop. These immigrations are well documented, and Merriam’s recounting of the 1749 invasion of Pennsylvania by gray squirrels, which led to bounties being paid for 640,000 squirrels, indicates the magnitude of both populations and the extent of the immigrations.

Perhaps the gray squirrel was absent as a resident in the central Adirondacks during Merriam’s time, but by the mid-1930’s no less than 6 sightings were made by Chief Ranger Oja in Huntington Wildlife Forest just west of Newcomb, although in neither locations are they common. Possibly, logging of the Adirondacks has led to range extensions. Home for a gray squirrel may be a leafy nest, a dome-shaped mass of twigs and leaves with an inner chamber of shredded bark and leaves, or a tree cavity which it seems to prefer. Food and Feeding Behavior: The principle foods are seeds and nuts with acorns, beechnuts, butternuts, and hickory nuts providing the mainstay of the autumn and winter diet. Beech and nuts, because of their relative abundance in parts of the Adirondacks, make the greater contribution. The smaller seeds of maples, ashes and basswood are of lesser importance. The buds, flowers, and inner bark of all these species, and others, contribute to the late winter and spring diet. Gray squirrels feed extensively on fungi, berries, and fruits during the summer, especially the fruit of the black cherry.

In the south, this species requires 1.5 g (2 pounds) of food each week. The energy requirements of Adirondack populations probably exceed this amount. In autumn, gray squirrels clip nuts from the canopy, and scatter hoard them in the ground, relying on their keen sense of smell to retrieve them in winter when they may have to dig through a foot or more of snow. Overlooked nuts sprout, some regenerating forests. Tree cavities may function as hiding places. Too, which may explain the survival of gray squirrels residing in the Adirondacks where deep snow is normal. Activity and Movement: Gray squirrels stay in their dens or nests for several days at a time during periods of severe winter cold, eventually visiting stores of nuts at midday. Other than these brief periods, this diurnal species is most active in the 2-3 hours after dawn and preceding dusk, with the remainder of the day spent basking on a limb or resting in the nest. Heavy cloud cover and courtship may extend activity throughout the day.

Gray squirrels are arboreal acrobats, climbing, running and leaping about trees, their sharp claws gaining a purchase on slippery bark, long tails balancing and breaking leaps, long slender bodies twisting and turning around pencil-thin branches. When alarmed, they freeze, flattening their tails and bodies to a trunk or limb on the side opposite an intruder, inching around to stay hidden. They are equally agile on the ground, walking, hopping, bounding, and running, their tails flowing behind them, attaining speeds of 10-15 mph by combining running with leaping. Although not aquatic in any sense, this species swims well, readily entering water, and swimming distances up to several miles. Merriam observed gray squirrels swimming across lakes of the Fulton Chain. Reproduction: Gray squirrel courtship is similar to the red squirrel’s, with 1-10 or more males engaging in “mating chases” of a female in estrous, the dominant male usually but not always mating with the female. Two breeding periods occur within a population, one in late winter, and another in mid-summer, with litters born in March-April and July-August.

Adult females two years of age or older may bear one or two litters per year; yearling females just once. After a gestation period of 40-44 days, the female bears her litter of 1 to 9 (average 2 or 3) in a den or leafy nest. The hairless, blind neonates weigh about 14-15 g (0.5 oz); their eyes open at 28-35 days, and they have a full coat of fur when they begin to leave the nest or tree cavity 42-49 days after birth. Not until they are 56-70 days old does the female wean her young. At this time, they begin to disperse. Young of the late summer litters may remain with the female during the winter. Sexual maturation takes place during the following spring or summer. Mean life expectancy for a gray squirrel at birth is 1-2 years; the average life span of an adult is closer to 6 years. Records for maximum life span are 12 years in the wild and 20 years in captivity. Predators: The typical predators of small to medium-sized mammals prey upon gray squirrels.

Social Behavior: Social system - Hierarchies define the relationships among gray squirrels living in close proximity. Older, larger adult males dominate smaller males. Females are subordinate to males except when litters are present. At this time, females defend small territories around their dens or nests. Home ranges of both sexes overlap, the males being larger. Home range size depends on food availability, but is usually 0.4-2.4 ha (1-6 acre). Adults are promiscuous and do not form pair bonds. Female-young associations which may persist into winter are the only social groupings. Communication - Gray squirrels rely extensively on vocal signals, and produce many kinds of vocalizations. Before and after mating, females give “kuks,” “quas,” and “moans.” Young squirrels “shrill-cry” when disturbed. Alarmed adult gray squirrels “buzz,” and use slow “kuks,” low “moans,” and high-intensity, repetitive “quaas.” Foot-stamping and tail-waiving may accompany these. Visual signals include posturing and motor patterns of which tail-position, movement, and shape are always important components. Anal glands provide clues to sexual status and perhaps other information as well.

Additional References Barkalow, F.S. and M. Shorten. 1973. The world of the gray squirrel. J.B. Lippencott Co., Philadelphia. 160pp. Barkalow, F.S. and R.F. Soots, Jr. 1975. Life span and reproductive longevity of the gray squirrel, Sciurus c. carolinensis. Journal of mammalogy, 56:522-24. Horwich, R.H. 1972. The ontogeny of social behavior in the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Verlag Paul Pary, Berlin, Hamburg. 103pp. Johnson, C.E. 1937. Part I. Preliminary reconnaissance of the land vertebrates of the Archer and Anna Huntington Wildlife Forest Station. Roosevelt Wildlife Bulletin, (4):552-672. Uhlig, H.G. 1956. The gray squirrel in West Virginia. Bulletin No. 3. Charleston, West Virginia Conservation Commission.

ESF Gateways BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, red squirrel: INFORMATION Skip directly to main content . Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species Tamiasciurus hudsonicus What do they look like? Red squirrels look different from other squirrels that live in trees because they are small and have deep reddish fur. They are much smaller than grey squirrels . They have a reddish back and white underside with dark colored lines which are easiest to see in summer. Their back is reddish brown or olive gray, but usually has a reddish or brownish band along the middle. Their tails are smaller and flatter than other tree squirrels and can be yellowish-gray or rusty red, with a band black band along it. Their underside is all white or cream, instead of Douglas squirrels , which are rust-colored or dark on their bellies. Male and female red squirrels are very difficult to tell apart.

( Flyger and Gates, 1982 ; Hall, 1981 ; Lane, et al., 2010 ; Steele, 1998 ) Red squirrels might be a little bit bigger or smaller in some place, but they weigh 200 to 250 g on average. They are 270 to 385 mm long. This includes their tail, which is 92 to 158 mm long by itself. Their back feet are 35 to 57 mm long and their ears are 19 to 31 mm long. ( Hall, 1981 ; Kramm, et al., 1975 ; Lindsay, 1982 ) Red squirrels get all new fur on their bodies twice a year, and once a year on their tail. These change helps scientists figure out how old they are. So does studying their teeth for permanent teeth and signs of wear. Red squirrels have 20 or 22 teeth. ( Lane, et al., 2010 ; Steele, 1998 ) Other Physical Features AnAge Where do they live?

Red squirrels are native to the Neartic region and have a very broad distribution covering almost all of the northern half of North America. Their range extends south along the Rocky Mountains to Arizona and New Mexico and east all the way to Quebec, Canada. This species is restricted to forest habitat, so in the southern extent of its range where the forested environment is sparse, their distribution is patchy. Red squirrels can be found on both coasts of North America and are widespread throughout Canada and Alaska. ( McAdam, et al., 2007 ; Steele, 1998 ) Red squirrels live in a very large area in the northern half of North America. They can be found in the Rocky Mountains down to Arizona and New Mexico and east all the way up to Quebec, Canada. They live only in forest habitats, so in the southern parts of this area, there are not quite as many of them. Red squirrels are found on both coasts of North America and are common throughout Canada and Alaska. ( McAdam, et al., 2007 ; Steele, 1998 ) Biogeographic Regions native What kind of habitat do they need?

Red squirrels prefer to live in shady northern forests with lots of tall pine trees and mushrooms. These are called boreal forests. This means that in the southern and eastern parts of their range, they live only around mountains. In the Rocky Mountains, they can live at elevations as high as 2,500 ft (762 m). The habitat of red squirrels changes depending on their location. They live in areas with seasons as well as places that are cold all year round. They can also live in other kinds of forests as well as around human homes if there are cool pine forests nearby. ( Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Steele, 1998 ) These animals are found in the following types of habitat 0.00 to 2500.00 ft How do they reproduce? Red squirrels breed either once or twice a year for 105 days. They mate in early spring from March to May and again in August to early September. In the warmer parts of their range, they breed twice. Males and females have multiple mates. Males invade the territory of females and chase them. They drive off other males by calling or chasing them.

( Gurnell, 1984 ; Lane, et al., 2010 ; Layne, 1952 ; Smith, 1968 ; Steele, 1998 ; Wirsing, et al., 2002 ) Mating System polygynandrous (promiscuous) Red squirrels breed once or twice a year, depending on where they live. In the south and east, they breed once in spring and once in late summer. Where it is colder, they usually breeding once a year. Red squirrels usually build nests within 30 m of where they have stored food. Their nests are in holes in trees, in the leaves, or can even be underground. They make nests out of grass, moss, parts of plants, shredded bark, feathers, or fur. If food is hard to come by, adult females choose not to reproduce but females older than 6 do anyway. This is because they are closer to the end of their life.

( Lane, et al., 2010 ; Steele, 1998 ) Baby red squirrels grow inside their mothers' bodies for 35 days, and then the mother gives birth to 1 to 8 young, and 3.97 on average. They weigh 7.08 g at birth and have no hair except for whiskers and some soft hairs on their chins. Their eyes open after 26 to 35 days, and they have all of their fur after 40 days. The young drink milk from their mother for the first 70 days, and then leave the nest to find their own territory. If the mother is not healthy, she might give part of her territory to one of the young. Mothers feed milk to their young for the first 70 days. After 7 weeks, they can go outside the nest, but the leave permanently after day 70. Young red squirrels are full size and have all of their teeth by the time they are 125 days old.

( Descamps, et al., 2009 ; Hayssen, 2008 ; Lane, et al., 2010 ; Layne, 1952 ; Nice, et al., 1954 ; Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Steele, 1998 ) Key Reproductive Features How often does reproduction occur? Red squirrels breed once or twice a year, depending on their geographic location. Breeding season The time of breeding depends on their geographic location. Range number of offspring Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 1 years Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) Sex: female Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 1 years Females raise the young without any help from males. They carry the young in their bodies for 35 days and then feed them milk after they are born for 70 days. When the young become independent, mothers sometimes give their territory or part of it away to their young.

( Boutin and Larsen, 1993 ; Humphries and Boutin, 2000 ; Steele, 1998 ) Parental Investment female How long do they live? Red squirrels live long lives compared to their size. The oldest squirrel in the wild was 10 years old, and the oldest in captivity was 9 years old. Their average lifespan is 5 years. However, red squirrels have difficulty surviving past 1 year old. In fact, only 25% of red squirrels survive past 1 year. ( Lane, et al., 2010 ; Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Steele, 1998 ) Range lifespan AnAge How do they behave? Red squirrels are mostly active during the day, but sometimes at night too. In the spring and summer they are most active in the morning and afternoon. In the fall, they are gathering food for the winter so they are active all day. In the winter, they move around more in the middle of the day when it is warmest outside. They rarely stay in the nest for more than 1 day without looking for food.

When it is less than -31.6 degrees Celsius, red squirrels living in warmer areas are not active at all. ( Clarkson and Ferguson, 1969 ; Pauls, 1978 ; Pruitt and Lucier, 1958 ; Steele, 1998 ) In most places they live and especially in pine forests, red squirrels claim and defend territories. They stockpile cones in their territories and don't allow others in. Their territories can be anywhere from 2400 to 48000 square meters in size. In forests without pine trees, they usually defend only their nests and food stores instead of a whole territory. ( Kemp and Keith, 1970 ; Layne, 1952 ; Steele, 1998 ) Key Behaviors 2400 to 48000 m^2 Home Range Red squirrels usually move around in an area that is 1 to 2.4 hectares in size. ( Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ) How do they communicate with each other? Red squirrels have excellent senses of smell, sight, and hearing.

They often call to each other, making noises like rattles, screeches, growls, buzzes and chirps. These noises are very important for defending their territory. They are also used to drive away other males competing for mates. Red squirrels may even be able to recognize each other by their calls. Often they make a different call for predators in the air compared to predators on the ground, but scientists aren't sure about this. Red squirrels also recognize each other through scent marks, which is important because its less noticeable to predators and can avoid unneeded fights between neighbors. ( Digweed and Rendall, 2010 ; Greene and Meagher, 1998 ; Price, et al., 1986 ; Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Vache, et al., 2001 ) Communication Channels chemical What do they eat? Red squirrels eat mostly seeds of pine trees. The amount of pine tree seeds available changes a lot during the year, so their diet is flexible. In the mountains of Oregon and Washington, they also eat at least 45 different kinds of mushrooms.

Red squirrels eat tree buds and flowers, fleshy fruits, tree sap, bark, insects, and even bird eggs or young snowshoe hares . In the winter, spring, and early summer, they strip bark of trees and eat the parts of the tree that transport nutrients. Red squirrels are energy efficient when foraging. This means they start by eating the cones with the most energy, and then the cones with a little bit less energy, and son on. ( Boutin, et al., 2006 ; McAdam and Boutin, 2003 ; Steele, 1998 ; Wilson, et al., 2003 ) Red squirrels hoard food, so they take pine tree cones and store them somewhere moist and cool. They store up enough food to last one or two seasons. The same storage spots are often used by several generations of squirrels. In the eastern United States and Canada, they often have multiple small hoards instead of one big one. Their great sense of smell helps them find their hoards, which they can find even under 4 meters of snow. Sometimes red squirrels steal food from other squirrels, which is very common in Arizona and also happens in Vermont.

( Dempsey and Keppie, 1993 ; Donald and Boutin, 2011 ; Gurnell, 1984 ; Hurly and Robertson, 1986 ; Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Smith and Reichman, 1984 ; Smith, 1968 ) Primary Diet sap or other plant fluids Other Foods stores or caches food What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten? Red squirrels are eaten by a wide variety of animals from snakes and birds of prey to mammals. Birds of prey that eat them are Cooper's hawks , northern goshawks , bald eagles , great gray owls , great horned owls , American kestrels , red-shouldered hawks , northern harriers , red-tailed hawks , sharp-shinned hawks . Mammals that eat them are American martens and fishers , weasels , mink , red foxes and their relatives , and also lynx and their relatives . They are preyed upon by timber rattlesnakes . Humans hunt red squirrels for both their fur and meat.

( Gurnell, 1984 ; Steele, 1998 ) Red squirrels make alarm calls when there are predators nearby. They make a call with a high frequency when they notice flying predators and a barking call when they notice land predators. They are difficult for predators to catch because they are quick on their feet and can escape into tree cover. They are fairly aggressive and defend themselves if needed. ( Digweed and Rendall, 2010 ; Greene and Meagher, 1998 ; Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Stuart-Smith and Boutin, 1995 ; Wirsing, et al., 2002 ) Known Predators humans ( Homo sapiens ) What roles do they have in the ecosystem? Red squirrels spread seeds and mushrooms through the forest when they store food somewhere and never end up eating it. The fungi in their food storage spots help small trees get nutrients and grow. Other times, red squirrels damage trees by eating their seeds and tissues. However, peeling away the bark on lodgepole pines in winter allows porcupines to eat. They also cause pine trees to grow more than one top.

This makes selling the wood from the trees worth less, but creates places to nest for rodents that live in trees as well as songbirds . ( Aubry, et al., 2003 ; Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Sullivan, et al., 1993 ) Red squirrels have many parasites that live both inside them and on their skin. There are 9 species of roundworms and 9 species of tapeworms including ( Hymenolepis ). Other parasites inside their bodies are tularemia bacteria called Francisella tularensis and Emmonsia crescens, and some kinds of protists like sarocysts, and Haplosporanigium. Their lungs can get infected by a fungus, giving them adiaspiromycosis.

On the outside of their bodies there can be 31 species of mites, ticks, and chiggers ( Glycyphagidae and Acarina), 25 species of fleas including Siphonaptera , Opisodasys robustus , Orchopeas caedens , Orchopeas neotomae , Orchopeas leucopus , Oropsylla idahoensis , Ceratophyllus vison. They may also carry botfly larvae . Viruses that infect them are silverwater virus, California encephalitis virus, and Powassan virus. ( Edwards, et al., 2003 ) Ecosystem Impact Commensal or parasitic species (or larger taxonomic groups) that use this species as a host sucking lice (Anoplura) Powassan virus Do they cause problems? Red squirrels have a negative impact on planting pine trees because they eat 60 to 100% of the cones, eat the buds, and strip the bark. They also nest in homes and gnaw on human property. If provoked, they sometimes bite people.

( Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ; Steele, 1998 ) Ways that these animals might be a problem for humans injures humans household pest How do they interact with us? Red squirrels are caught for their fur. Selling it in Canada is worth a total of about $1 million a year. In Minnesota, they are hunted for food. They are also eaten by important species like lynx and martens . ( Kemp and Keith, 1970 ; Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ) Ways that people benefit from these animals: body parts are source of valuable material Are they endangered? As of 2008, red squirrels are classified as Least Concern on the ICUN Red List and by the United States government. They are widespread and common, have suitable habitat throughout their range, and face no major threats. One subspecies, Mt. Graham red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis), is endangered according to the ICUN Red List. This subspecies is only found in southeast Arizona and its population is about 150 individuals.

( Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ) Red squirrels live in a large area and are common, so they are not endangered or close to becoming endangered. They are listed as "Least Concern" on the ICUN Red List and by the United States government. A subspecies called Mt. Graham red squirrels that lives in southeast Arizona is as endangered on the ICUN Red List. There are only about 150 of them. ( Ruff and Wilson, 1999 ) No special status Some more information... Pine squirrels like red squirrels probably separated from bushy-tailed squirrels in the late Pliocene time period. Red squirrels are first reported in the Irvingtonian age (1,800,000 to 240,000 years ago). They are found in many fossils in the central and eastern United States that are from 240,000 to 11,000 years ago.

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Question: What is a female adult squirrel called?
Answer: Doe