Squirrels belong to the class of mammals and are rodents. They are distributed throughout the world, where there are coniferous-deciduous forests, with the exception of Australia. In general, there are about thirty of their species. The gray squirrel, or even "Caroline" is added to its name, has a traditional habitat in the east of North America, as well as in Canada. Now it is actively breeding in Europe, where it was brought back in the 19th century, where the animal is developing the territory of Britain.
Western squirrel appearance
In the article you can see photos of gray squirrels in natural conditions.
They look very nice and pleasant, but if you get to know each other better, which we will, you can learn a lot of strange things about them. These cute squirrels are quite large. Their weight ranges from four hundred grams to one kg, and their size is about half a meter.
On the back of their fur is a beautiful silvery color, and on the belly - white. The tail, which they use as a rudder, may have black spots. The ears are large, but there are no tassels on them. By winter, the ears become brown at the back. Full molt occurs in spring and autumn. Just before winterthe hair on the tail is not updated. Having learned its dimensions, it becomes clear why the overseas squirrel is actively pushing the usual European squirrels that live with us to the worst territories.
Where the Carolina squirrel likes to live
Grey squirrel prefers forests where beeches and oaks grow, mixing with fir-trees and pines. The area she needs is not small - about forty hectares. But she settles perfectly in parks, where people feed her throughout the year, which is very important for the animal, especially in winter. In parks, these animals quickly get used to people and stop paying attention to them, descending low along the tree trunk right to the ground. Tourists in England are delighted that the squirrel takes everything out of hand: nuts, hamburgers, sandwiches, cookies. These squirrels do not like dogs, so they often perch rather low on branches and clatter amusingly, teasing a dog that cannot reach them. In nature, predatory lynxes, coyotes, eagles, hawks and even cats are their enemies.
Garden Pest
In England, where it was brought, the gray squirrel quickly settled in, because there it has no natural enemies. In addition to the usual food in her homeland, she quickly reached the gardens and began to dig up flower bulbs, eat bark on trees, eat young seedlings, buds and flowers, frogs, food in bird feeders.
A large, strong and intelligent animal destroys bird nests, destroying eggs and chicks. They even began to produce special bird feeders, metal and ceramic, but even this does not allow to cope withdexterous animals that gnaw and unscrew them to the ground to get to food.
That's why squirrels are gray and have become in England not only for gardeners, hunting grounds, but also for the government enemy No. 1. They are not only allowed, but also encouraged to hunt. But this method does not yet allow to cope with a rapidly growing population, although the life span of a squirrel is short. It averages four years. In addition, this squirrel is a smallpox vector. It's good that smallpox vaccinations are mandatory in almost all civilized countries.
Life in the hollow
If a squirrel has chosen a hollow for itself, then it is usually located high: 7-15 meters from the ground is the norm. She selects a place so that there are no nests of wild bees or martens nearby. When a squirrel sleeps, it hides behind its fluffy tail.
Animal home
For the nest of the squirrel, the gray one chooses a hollow or an old crow's nest, firmly connected with clay. From above, she closes it with a lid. And inside it is lined with its fur, moss, dry soft grass. The walls of the nest are not blown through, as they do not have gaps. Such a structure with a diameter of 43-91 cm is called Gaino.
It is usually built on fir trees in a fork in the tree. It always has two exits. One is located right next to the trunk, so that in case of danger you can quickly jump onto the trunk and jump to another tree or hide in a dense crown.
Builds such a gaino female squirrel for the withdrawal of baby squirrels. The male does not take part in the creation of the dwelling. For himself he finds the nests he leftbirds. If a gray squirrel has bred offspring, then it has several more nests or hollows in stock.
She regularly carries her squirrels in her teeth from one room to another. Then there is less smell by which a predator can find it, and bloodsucking insects do not appear. This is done once every two or three days. But only a few nests are built very carefully, the rest, the number of which can reach up to fifteen, are not so convenient: these are temporary shelters.
Squirrels are small and completely naked. They are born reddish, and only when they grow up, they will be covered with a beautiful silver-gray coat. In the meantime, they only have whiskers. This is what people commonly refer to as a mustache. Offspring appears twice a year. Usually, three or four squirrels are born, which the squirrel feeds with milk for two months. Then their eyes open, then they grow a fur coat and in a year turn into adults.
Lifestyle in summer and winter
On a hot day, meeting a gray squirrel is almost impossible. She rests in her nest, choosing earlier cool mornings or evenings for hikes, when the air temperature has already dropped. The animal prepares carefully for winter. It does not hibernate for the winter.
Squirrel prepares food supplies for the winter and puts them in secret storerooms. A gray squirrel in winter can forget about part of its reserves, so it will eat without a twinge of conscience those blanks that it finds from its relatives. She loves seeds, nuts and acorns, berries andmushrooms, and insects. In very cold winters, when everything is already eaten, squirrels can migrate en masse from forests to parks, where they will always find food left for them by people.
Veksha - red squirrel
Our common squirrel is quite small. It is about ten cm long, and you still need to add twenty for the tail. Thus, gray and red squirrels differ significantly not only in color, but also in size. The hair of the veksha is very fluffy, because the animal looks larger than it really is. Her eyes are large, and her ears are long with tassels, which are clearly visible in winter. With its sharp claws on long fingers, it clings well to the bark of trees and easily moves from a thin branch to another, similar one. Probably no one has ever seen a veksha fall.
How the color of the animal changes
In the spring-summer season, the squirrel mimics, and its hair, sparse and hard, becomes as reddish-brown as the trunks and branches of trees. At this time, the hunters are never interested in her. By winter, she actively sheds. The coat becomes thick, soft and fluffy. In addition, its color changes - the skin becomes gray.
Fortunately, the gray squirrel has not been brought to Russia yet. It is not known what would have come of this. After all, I remember that the Colorado potato beetle once arrived from across the ocean with all the known consequences.
