Types of Squirrels
There are many details that make squirrels who they are.
Squirrels are tiny creatures who are known for their agility, and their love for nuts. These animals hardly ever mean trouble. However, if they are present in large numbers they may mean your house is infested and you will have to consider getting rid of them. There are several types of squirrels, each of them different from another so you may want to notice the details. Following are a few pointers that will help you deal with squirrels.
Here Are Some Types of Squirrels and Their Characteristics
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Red Squirrels
These squirrels are alternately named as fox squirrels and are commonly found in Northern America. The name red squirrel contrasts from its scientific name which translates to the black squirrel. These squirrels are similar to their Easter Gray variant and the only difference between the two is that red squirrels have red fur and coat. They measure up to 39 inches from their head to their tail which is nearly a meter. The weight of adult squirrels ranges from 500 grams to 1000 grams and there is hardly any difference between the weight of females and males.
These squirrels are known to be omnivores but sometimes do consume eggs from nests as well. They have the potential to survive for nearly 18 years but usually, do not cross one year due to predators that feed on them.
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Gray Squirrels
These squirrels are spotted near the Atlantic seaboard of Canada and USA. As their name indicates, their coat is grey and their belly has white fur. It has been noticed that they may grow white or red fur in urban areas. Adult grey squirrels happen to be smaller than the red variant and they measure up to 9-12 inches and their tail can be about 25 centimeters long. Their weight is half of the red squirrels usually about 400-600 grams. Their diet consists of seeds as well as nuts. They are known to be hoarders and usually store food.
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Flying Squirrels
Flying squirrels are known so because they can easily glide for about 90 meters between trees. They are able to do this with the help of a thin membrane that resembles parachutes. Flying squirrels are mostly present in temperate areas like Indonesia and India. They usually don’t act as pests and nest together. Several squirrels will nest together and close to each other for survival.
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California Ground Squirrels
These squirrels are extremely colorful and have a bushy tail. The fur on the squirrels back is mottled and has brown, grey and yellowish hair. The tail has very thick hair and measures of only 15 centimeters. From tail to head, they measure only two times the length of their tail. These squirrels can sometimes damage houses to a large extent.
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Western-Grey Squirrel
The western-grey variants are found in the Californian forests and cause problems for those growing trees for professional purposes. However, these squirrels rarely attack apartments or households in order to infest them. Western-grey squirrels carry several diseases such as the squirrel-pox.
Apart from these types of squirrels, there are about 170 species more. Each of them has a different behavior and physical appearance and knowing these will help you in understanding the infestation they cause.
What Do Squirrels Eat?
These furry little rodents are known to eat different varieties of items. If you ever noticed a squirrel, you would have realized that they aren’t fussy about their food choices. You can notice them eating seeds, rice, fruits, nuts, flowers, vegetables, and a lot more. They happen to have an appetite for fruits but they will also try almost anything out of curiosity. As squirrels have learned to share their environment with human beings, they have also learned a couple of fresh eating habits. They are often seen eating scrap food like leftover sandwiches and burgers.
The fruits they are seen eating include kiwi, pear, apples, grapes, avocados, mangoes and plums. They are also extremely fond of berries and sugar-rich items. Squirrels will eat vegetables like lettuce, kale, and spinach. They have often spotted savoring tomatoes, corn, beans, and radishes. These are just a few and there are a lot more of these veggies that squirrels happen to enjoy. They also eat cereal like Cheerios fondly.
You obviously are aware of the fact that squirrels are crazy about nuts. They are known to stash nuts as storage to eat them later and will dig deep to find them again. They also eat birdseed that contains seeds and nuts. In case these aren’t available, they may also eat insects and eggs but this is rather rare.
Squirrels will only be seen consuming meat in case of extreme hunger where they can’t food. This diet includes small snakes, birds and also insects.
Do Squirrels Sleep And Where?
Most of the times when you see squirrels, they’re always up to something like running around, cracking a nut, etc. However, these tiny playful creatures need their rest too. Their sleeping habits may vary according to the type of squirrel, which mostly depends on one question: Do they inhabit the ground or the trees?
Tree squirrels often create a den at the side of the tree as they need a cozy spot to rest. They use leaves and moss to make their little home as comfortable as possible. Squirrels sleep during the night and when they aren’t found running around, they’re usually sleeping in their burrows. Some types of squirrels also hibernate.
Squirrels Are Born In Small Litters
Squirrels mostly have around 2 litters a year and their initial litter is usually born around February or April. The subsequent litter may be born during August or September. A squirrel litter isn’t very big and may constitute two to five squirrels in a litter. These babies are born without any fur and are always raised by their mother alone. For becoming stronger, these babies rely on milk provided by their mother.
How Long Do Squirrels Live?
The lifespan of a squirrel greatly depends on a lot of factors, the most important of these are their predators. These creatures are very well capable of surviving up to 15 to 18 years, however, are often killed within the first year of their lives. The mortality rate is rather high at this age for them as they are prey to many predators. When kept as pets, these squirrels survive for a lot longer.
Conclusion of Squirrel Facts:
Recognizing the types of squirrels reduces half your work towards removing a squirrel infestation. They usually do not cause trouble until and unless their population grows a little too much. If you notice squirrels near utility lines or on your roof then you may have an infestation at your house. Try changing their habitat in order to get rid of a squirrel infestation. You can also try reducing them in number by setting traps.
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