Squirrel

Squirrel species inhabit nearly every continent except Antarctica, filling niches from rainforest canopies to arctic tundra. Tree squirrels like the eastern gray bounce across branches, using sharp claws and flexible ankles that rotate 180 degrees to grip bark. Ground squirrels dig multi-room burrows, while flying squirrels stretch loose skin between wrists and ankles to glide more than 50 meters. All squirrels wield feather-like tails for balance, warmth, and communication; a tail flick can warn rivals or startle predators.

Food drives squirrel behavior. Acorns, walnuts, pine cones, mushrooms, tree bark, and juicy berries fill their diets. In late summer and autumn, squirrels enter a caching frenzy, burying individual nuts shallowly across their territories. They rely on memory, smell, and landmarks to recover these caches when winter arrives. Forgotten seeds sprout into new trees, unintentionally regenerating forests. Some squirrels practice scatter-hoarding, while others create larger middens—piles of stored cones protected under logs.

Squirrels are active during daylight, making them easy wildlife to observe. They communicate with chirps, growls, and tail waves that signal alarm or anger. When threatened, a squirrel may freeze flat against tree bark, blending with the trunk, or spring in a spiral to keep the tree between itself and a hawk. Strong hind legs launch six-meter jumps, and a tail spread wide acts like a parachute to steady landings. Flying squirrels take nocturnal foraging trips, navigating with large eyes and gliding membranes called patagia.

Reproduction varies by region but usually involves two breeding seasons: one in late winter and another in midsummer. After a gestation of about six weeks, mothers give birth to litters of two to six hairless kits in leaf-lined nests called dreys or in tree cavities. Kits open their eyes at four weeks, explore branches by eight weeks, and practice short jumps while their mother watches. By autumn they disperse to claim their own territories, often only a few trees away from their birthplace.

Squirrels co-exist with humans in city parks, college campuses, and backyard gardens. They can raid bird feeders or chew attic vents, yet they also delight observers with bold antics. Solutions include using squirrel-proof feeders, planting native nut trees to direct foraging away from wires, and sealing entry holes. Scientists track squirrels to monitor forest health, study navigation, and investigate urban wildlife behavior. Students can map squirrel nests on school grounds, compare scatter-hoarding success with memory games, or design mini “obstacle courses” to observe problem-solving. Appreciating squirrels highlights the role of small mammals in maintaining healthy woodlands.