Squirrels are familiar to almost everyone. More than 200 squirrel species live all over the world, with the notable exception of Australia.
The tiniest squirrel is the aptly named African pygmy squirrel—only five inches (thirteen centimeters) long from nose to tail. Others reach sizes shocking to those who are only familiar with common tree squirrels. The Indian giant squirrel is three feet (almost a meter) long.
Like other rodents, squirrels have four front teeth that never stop growing so they don't wear down from the constant gnawing. Tree squirrels are the types most commonly recognized, often seen gracefully scampering and leaping from branch to branch. Other species are ground squirrels that live in burrow or tunnel systems, where some hibernate during the winter season.
Ground squirrels eat nuts, leaves, roots, seeds, and other plants. They also catch and eat small animals, such as insects and caterpillars. These small mammals must always be wary of predators because they are tasty morsels with few natural defenses, save flight. Sometimes groups of ground squirrels work together to warn each other of approaching danger with a whistling call.
Tree squirrels are commonly seen everywhere from woodlands to city parks. Though they are terrific climbers, these squirrels do come to the ground in search of fare such as nuts, acorns, berries, and flowers. They also eat bark, eggs, or baby birds. Tree sap is a delicacy to some species.
Flying squirrels are a third, adaptable type of squirrel. They live something like birds do, in nests or tree holes, and although they do not fly, they can really move across the sky. Flying squirrels glide, extending their arms and legs and coasting through the air from one tree to another. Flaps of skin connecting limbs to body provide a winglike surface. These gliding leaps can exceed 150 feet (46 meters). Flying squirrels eat nuts and fruit, but also catch insects and even baby birds.
Whether they dwell high in a tree or in an underground burrow, female squirrels typically give birth to two to eight offspring. Babies are blind and totally dependent on their mothers for two or three months. Mothers may have several litters in a year, so most squirrel populations are robust. Share
Now i dont know the authenticity behind this story but the story goes that the squirrels were owned by a brother and sister whom traveled with PT Barnum and the circus and that they escaped. Bred with regular gray and red squirrels and each other and the bloodlines got all over the place via shipping and regular migration. Seems to be a genetic anomaly in their dna that caused it and now its just a regular trait.
Ever see an Albino squirrel? I have a nest of em across the street!
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09:57 PM
MidEngineManiac Member
Posts: 29566 From: Some unacceptable view Registered: Feb 2007
Now i dont know the authenticity behind this story but the story goes that the squirrels were owned by a brother and sister whom traveled with PT Barnum and the circus and that they escaped. Bred with regular gray and red squirrels and each other and the bloodlines got all over the place via shipping and regular migration. Seems to be a genetic anomaly in their dna that caused it and now its just a regular trait.
Ever see an Albino squirrel? I have a nest of em across the street!
Yeh....them albino sqirrels are a BEETCH out of the gate........they will buck ya in 0.7...and NOBODY --I mean nobody--has ever got 8 seconds on a squirrel in a rodeo!!!!!!
Saddle-up, boys--we got a sqirrel to beat.
[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 02-23-2011).]
I have a window to my office facing a small parking lot in the front of our building and for the last few days a squirrel has been dashing back and forth from a ditch to close to the front door of our building where there`s a tree with acorns or something on the ground. He will sit at the tree and eat a little and then dash back across into the ditch only to repeat it every so often. He`s been lucky because as he`s heading over to the tree he pauses to check if anyone is by the front door, but it puts him right in line with someone driving through the parking lot. Fortunately, we don`t get that much traffic through there.
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02:20 PM
ALLTRBO Member
Posts: 2023 From: College Park, MD Registered: Mar 2006
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