Squirrel Facts

 

“A squirrel has the entire world all figured out. Just don’t argue with him.” – Audrey Tourney

 

Red and Grey Squirrels Characteristics

• Remains active throughout winter, except in severely cold weather. At temperatures below -25°C (-13 F) it stays warm, but awake, in its nest.
• Because the Red Squirrel does not hibernate, it needs to store massive amounts of food in winter caches. These food caches, which in extreme cases can reach the size of a garage, are the secret to the Red Squirrel’s winter success. The red squirrel stores in only one place unlike Grey’s that store in multiply places.
• Daytime hours are devoted almost entirely to food gathering and storage
• Potential competitors, such as gray jays, flying squirrels, even the larger grey squirrel are chased off or soundly thrashed. Even trespassing humans may be warned with loud, angry chirping protesting by stamping its feet and jerking its tail violently with each syllable.
• The Grey Squirrel (as well as several other squirrel species) “live and learn”. They become wiser the older they get.
• Total length: Grey- 43 – 50 cm (17-20”) Red- 18 – 23 cm (7-9”)

 

Predators: Martens, fishers, mink, weasels, foxes, coyotes, hawks, owls, bobcats, lynx
Best senses: Sight and Smell
Lifespan: Up to 7 years in wild, 10 years in captivity
Maximum jumping distance: 2.4 m (8 ft)

Diet:

• Most of its diet consists of seeds extracted from conifer cones. Flowers, berries, mushrooms, eggs, birds, mice, insects and occasionally carrion may be eaten.
• Besides cutting green cones from the branches tirelessly and dropping them to the ground for later collection in late summer and fall, they also spread and dry mushrooms on sun-soaked bushes before storing them.
• At times when large nut crops and high reproduction rates among the Squirrels is followed by a year of little food, hundreds or even thousands of Squirrels may move to find new food sources.
• Grey Squirrels are nut-lovers. They feed mainly on the seeds of oak, maple, ash and elm. In spring and summer they also eat buds, flowers, leaves and occasionally animal matter, such as eggs or nestling birds.

Habitat:

• Red Squirrels are common in northern Ontario, rare in southwestern Ontario
• In Central Ontario, most Grey Squirrels are actually black – a colour that absorbs more heat in winter.

 

Native Notes:
“The Squirrel is prepared for anything that life may present. They are extremely adaptable and teach us to trust that with preparation our own life will be simple and safe.”