Squirrels reproduction and lifestyle. Brief information about the common squirrel Description of the species according to protein criteria
A squirrel is a rodent animal that belongs to the genus Squirrel. It and other related genera include 280 species of animals. Each of us saw her in the forest, parks and even near the house. The fluffy jumper has chosen all the places where there are trees. The tree is her home. She lives in a hollow or in a bird's nest on a branch, where she stores food for the winter. Different varieties of squirrels are found on every continent except Australia.
This beautiful and nimble animal has always been loved by humans. The red-haired beauty easily gets used to people, so she is often kept at home.
Ordinary
The most common among all types. Found in temperate latitudes of Eurasia. The diet includes nuts, cone seeds, insects, and berries. For the winter it stores food and lives in hollow trees.
The body length is from 15 to 26 cm, and the weight can reach 500-700 g. The tail is from 12 to 20 cm long, wide and light. With its help, the fluffy beauty can jump up to 15 m. The head is round, the eyes are large, black, the ears are long and have tassels at the end. The legs at the back are longer than those at the front. Color depends on habitat. European squirrels have red fur, while Far Eastern squirrels have brown and blackish fur. They all have a white belly. IN summer time the animal is molting.
Ordinary
Aplodontia
The animal is stocky and larger than most species of the family. The body is about 30 cm long, the tail is short (2.5 cm). Weight from 1 kg to 1.5 kg. The head is massive and wide, the neck is almost invisible. The eyes are small, vision is poor. The ears are small (they are barely noticeable from under the fur). The coat is short, thick, and grows vertically. The hind limbs are longer than the forelimbs. The front ones have long claws for digging the ground.
Habitat: Pacific coast of the USA. There the animal lives in forests with a developed shrub layer. Lives in a large hole more than 10 m long, which he digs himself. During the rainy season, it copes well with floods in its home, because it swims well. Eats ferns and tree bark.
Aplodontia Persian
Another name is the Caucasian squirrel, which indicates the habitat of this species in the wooded zone of the Caucasus and the Middle East. Lives in trees, but is very often on the ground. Still swims well. It can jump to a length of 3-5 m. Its diet is the same as that of an ordinary squirrel.
It differs from the usual one in its smaller size and shorter body. Its length is 20-25 cm, and the tail is about 15 cm. Weight is 300-400 g. The ears are small, there are no tassels. The back is brown or chestnut in color, with noticeable black or silver spots on it. The abdomen is light orange or white. The tail is chestnut-rusty or brown in color. In winter, the squirrel's coat darkens slightly. Molting occurs twice a year (April and October).
Persian Mountain Longnose
The body of the animal reaches 20-27 cm, the tail is 10-15 cm. It weighs 250-350 g. The fur is rich brown, slightly lighter on the sides. On the tummy White wool. The tail is dark and white at the end. The head is rounded. A characteristic feature is an elongated face. The lower incisors, which are very long, stand out. The ears are short and round in shape. The paws are larger in the back than in the front. There are 5 fingers on them.
Habitat: Southeast Asia, the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Mountain squirrels feed on insects: crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers.
Mountain Longnose Chipmunk
The species lives in the Appalachian forests of North America. Squirrels are slightly larger than a chipmunk. Body length 28-33 cm, tail - 10-15 cm. Fur from brown to olive-red. The tail is slightly darker than the body. The eyes are black, with light fur around them. On the animal's belly it is also light. In the summer, a dark stripe appears on the sides, which is located along the body. It separates the back and abdomen of the animal.
Animals of this breed do not hibernate in winter; squirrels can be seen on the ground or tree in the cold season. This animal is also a good swimmer.
Chipmunk White striped
The adult size is about 30 cm, the tail is approximately equal to the body. The weight of the rodent is from 250 to 500 g. Distinctive feature The species has white longitudinal stripes on the sides. The back is black and red, and the belly is light cream. The tail is fluffy, darker than the body. The muzzle is elongated, the ears are large and noticeable.
The region of distribution is the West African coast. They can also live in tropical jungle, and in bush groves, and in hot savannas. They live in small groups.
White striped Striped
The body is 22-28 cm, and the tail is from 18 to 25 cm. The weight of the animal is from 500 g to a kilogram. The coat is hard and there is no undercoat, because the animal lives in a hot climate. The color of the back is sandy-brown, and the ventral part is white-yellow. There is a short light stripe on both sides. Tail of gray-brown races flowers. The head is elongated and slightly flat.
The striped squirrel is found in Morocco, Uganda and other countries of North-West Africa. It lives in earthen burrows, which it digs with its long claws, or termite mounds, openings between rocks.
Striped Mouse
The smallest member of the family. Its length is the same as that of a mouse - about 5-7 cm. The tail is 5 cm long, with a white spot at its end. The back is yellow-green and the underparts are olive-white. The ears are round with a white spot at the end. The muzzle is slightly elongated.
Habitat: dense tropical jungle near the Congo River. Leads a reclusive lifestyle, lives high in the trees, and therefore has been little studied.
Mouse Indian giant (bicolor)
A tree squirrel whose body reaches 35-55 cm, tail - 60 cm. Weight can be up to 2 kg. The upper body is brown-red, and the belly and lower legs are white-cream. The sharp transition of two shades is clearly visible on the animal’s front legs. The head is brownish or sandy. There is a light spot between the ears.
The species is distributed in South-East Asia and on the Hindustan Peninsula. Lives in tropical forests away from human settlements. Spends most of its time high in the trees.
Indian giant Fox (black)
The animal reaches a length of 45 to 65 cm, the tail accounts for 20-33 cm of the total. Weight varies from 500 g to kilogram. The color can be brownish-yellowish, dark brown or black. Some representatives of the species have a white pattern on the tail or muzzle.
Lives on the North American continent. Lives in hollows or nests in trees. Most often it inhabits wooded areas, but rodents have also adapted to urban conditions.
Fox Maghreb
A small species, the length of which is 16-23 cm. The tail is equal in length to the body. Weight Limit about 350 g. Body hairs are short and coarse. The upper part of the animal is red-brown with light longitudinal stripes. The sides are cream, light brown. The tail consists of black and gray hairs. It is very fluffy compared to its body.
Region of residence: Northwestern Sahara. Lives in shrubs of the tropics and subtropics. Digs holes for living and avoiding predators. They eat seeds, roots, insects, and small lizards.
Maghreb Mexican prairie dog
They are often called gophers. The body reaches 38-45 cm, and the weight is about a kilogram. Males are significantly larger than females. The color of the animal is yellow and light brown, the belly is lighter than the back. In winter, he changes his fur coat to a warmer one with undercoat.
They live only in Mexico. Rodents are very social. They live in small groups, occasionally in colonies of up to 200 individuals. They dig holes that simply go down or descend inward in a spiral at a distance of 1 m. After this, the tunnel branches horizontally. Smart rodents use the hills that remain after digging a hole as an observation post for predators. When an enemy is detected, the sentry gives a signal to everyone to hide.
Mexican prairie dog Palm
The rodent reaches a length of 15-20 cm, a tail - 10-15 cm. Weight is about 100 g. The hair is thick, but short, and longer on the tail. The color of the upper part of the animal can be gray or black. There are 5 wide light stripes along the back. The animal's abdomen is light.
It lives in India and on the island of Ceylon, and the northern palm squirrel subspecies lives in Pakistan and Nepal. It is most often found in tropical jungles and palm groves, but detections are not uncommon in cities.
Palm Common flying squirrel
Reaches 20 cm in length, and the tail is 15 cm. Maximum weight is 170 g. The fur is thicker and softer than that of most squirrels. The back is silver-gray, and the ventral part of the body is white with a gray coating. The head is round, blunt-nosed, and has large bulging black eyes. The main difference between all flying squirrels is the presence of leather membranes between the front and hind legs. With their help, the animal very deftly plans between trees and can cover distances that are significantly longer flight of other squirrels.
Habitat – temperate latitudes Asia and Far East. Lives in mixed forests. The animal leads night look life. It happens very rarely on earth.
Common flying squirrel Japanese flying squirrel (Momonga)
Lives on the islands of Japan. A small animal 15-18 cm long and a tail 10-15 cm. The upper part of the animal is gray-brown in color, and the lower part is light gray. The muzzle is blunt-nosed, the ears are triangular, rounded at the ends. The eyes are very large, which allows the animals to see perfectly in the dark. Like other flying squirrels, they have membranes between their front and hind legs.
They are most often found in dense evergreen forests. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. Most of the time it sits in trees.
Japanese flying squirrel Western gray
The length of the animal including the tail is 43-62 cm. Weight reaches from 400 g to a kilogram. The fur is silver-gray on top and white on the belly. The tail is very fluffy, gray, sometimes with black spots. The ears are long, without tassels. There is a white rim around the eyes.
Lives in the USA and Mexico. Most often found in deciduous and mixed forests, where there are oaks, plane trees and poplars.
Western gray Cape earthen
The animal is 22-25 cm long, the tail is from 20 to 25 cm. Weight is 400-650 g. Males are slightly heavier than the opposite sex. The animal's skin is black with short brown fur. There is no undercoat. The fur on the face, neck and belly is lighter. On the sides there is light stripes. The tail is flat, consisting of white and black hairs mixed.
Distributed in southern African countries. Found in arid regions, grasslands and savannas. They dig holes for shelter and escape from predators.
Cape earthen Caroline
The habitat is the eastern part of the North American continent. The body length is from 35 to 52 cm, and the tail is 15-25 cm. Weight is about a kilogram. The fur is gray with brown or red hairs. The abdomen is white. The tail is fluffy. There are individuals with completely black fur.
The animal lives in mixed or coniferous forests. It feeds on tree buds, young shoots, unripe and ripe fruits, nuts, various seeds and bird eggs.
Caroline Cream
A large representative of the family that lives on the Indochina Peninsula and the Indonesian Islands. The body length of the animal is from 32 to 35 cm, and the tail is 37-44 cm. Weight ranges from a kilogram to one and a half. The color is bright and noticeable. The back and head are dark brown or gray, and the belly is white or yellow. The ears are short, but quite large.
The animals live in humid forests. The squirrel spends most of its time in the trees, and only comes to the ground to hunt other types of rodents. Representatives of the species avoid human settlements, preferring wild forest.
Cream Kisteuhaya
This species is a real giant among the Belkov family. The animal is 30-52 cm long, and the tail is slightly smaller. Weight reaches 1-2 kg. The color is elegant: the back is chocolate or chestnut-brown, the sides are yellow-white, and they have a dark brown stripe. The front paws have dark “gloves”, and the hind paws are a rich brown color. The belly is white, and the tail is darker than the body interspersed with light hairs. It has such long fur that visually the tail looks one third larger than the rest of the body. The ears are long with large tassels, which gave the species its name.
This species is widespread on the island of Borneo, where it inhabits humid forests. The diet includes not only seeds, plants and fruits, but also small birds and reptiles.
Kisteuhaya Long-nosed
The body size varies from 20 to 28 cm, and the tail from 10 to 15 cm. The weight of the animal is 250-350 g. The back is red-brown, and the sides are light brown. The abdomen is white. The muzzle is elongated, which is what gave it its name. It has long lower incisors and a very long tongue, which are excellent at capturing insects for feeding squirrels. The ears are short and round. The eyes are black. On the face, front legs and belly there are vibrissae - sensitive hairs.
Habitat: southeastern Asia. Lives on the ground and builds a nest near rocks, stones and in low hollows.
Long-nosed Beardmore's squirrel
Slightly smaller than a common squirrel. The body length is from 15 to 20 cm, and the tail is 10-15 cm. Weight is approximately 200-300 g. The back is gray-brown, the sides are light gray, and the head is a rich gray color mixed with brown tones. There is a light brown stripe on the sides. The abdomen is yellow-white. The ears are long and brown.
This animal is an inhabitant of the dense forests of the Indochina Peninsula. Spends most of its time on the ground, but is excellent at climbing trees.
Sciurus vulgaris
3,000 - 15,000 rub.
Common squirrel, or veksha (Sciurus vulgaris)
Type - chordates
Class - mammals
Squad - rodents
Family - squirrels
Genus - squirrels
IN colloquial speech And fiction often referred to as "red squirrel", which leads to confusion, since in the United States and Canada the same term refers to the red squirrel, a representative of the genus Tamiasciurus.
The following subspecies of the common squirrel are common in Russia:
Northern European squirrel, S.v. varius Brisson, 1899. In winter, a light bluish-gray color with a brown tail is common. There are many red-tailed (up to 30%) and red-eared specimens. Distribution: Kola Peninsula, Karelia.
Squirrel Formozova, S.v. formosovi Ognev, 1935. Winter fur is pure gray, back with dark gray ripples. Browntails are common. Distribution: northeast of the European part of Russia south to Novgorod and Perm, basins Northern Dvina and Pechory.
Central Russian squirrel, (veksha) S.v. ognevi Migulin, 1928. The color of the winter fur is gray with an admixture of fawn tones ( fir trees) to ash gray ( Sosnovki); summer - from brown-brown to ocher-rusty. Redtail at least 25-30%. Distribution: in the north - to Novgorod, in the west - to Pskov, Velikiye Luki, Torzhok, Vyazma and Kaluga, to the south - to Tula, Penza, Syzran, Elabuga, in the east - along the river. Kama to Perm.
Belka Fedyushina, S.v. fedjuschini Ognev, 1935. The fur is coarser than that of the Central Russian squirrel, the winter color is darker and more dirty, brown in tone. Distribution: northern Belarus and western regions of Russia, north to Velikiye Luki, east to the line between Smolensk, Vyazma and Roslavl.
Ukrainian squirrel, S.v. ukrainicus Migulin, 1928. Differs from the Central Russian squirrel in its larger size and the predominance of brown-rusty tones in the winter fur. Redtail up to 70%. Distribution: northern Ukraine (Poltava and Kharkov regions) and adjacent regions of Russia (Smolensk and Voronezh regions).
Bashkir squirrel, S.v. bashkiricus Ognev, 1935. Winter fur is light, from fawn-gray to bluish-gray with gray ripples; summer - ocher-reddish-gray. Distribution: Orenburg region, Bashkiria, Middle and partly Northern Urals.
teleut squirrel, S.v. exalbidus Pallas, 1778. The largest subspecies with very thick fur. Winter fur is a very light, silver-gray tone with grayish ripples; the tail is pale gray mixed with blackish and yellowish-rusty tones. Greytails predominate, browntails are absent. Distribution: tape pine forests along the Irtysh and Ob rivers north to Novosibirsk. Acclimatized in Crimea and in the island forests of Northern Kazakhstan; repeatedly released in the pine forests of Central Russia and Lithuania.
West Siberian squirrel, S.v. martensi Matschie, 1901. Winter fur is light, fawn with faint grayish ripples. Browntails and blacktails predominate; redtail about 3%. Distribution: Central Siberia - from the lower and middle Ob region east to the Yenisei, south to Tomsk and Novosibirsk.
Yenisei squirrel, S.v. jenissejensis Ognev, 1935. Color is very variable. In winter, the predominant color is bluish-ash-gray with small dark gray ripples, the tail is reddish-rusty, mixed with black tones. Summer fur is reddish-ocher to black-brown. Distribution: left bank of the Yenisei, approximately from the Krasnoyarsk - Irkutsk line north to the watershed of the Yenisei and Lena.
Yakut squirrel, S.v. jacutensis Ognev, 1929. Winter fur is colored in intense gray tones. Spreading: mountainous areas between the upper reaches of the Lena, Vitim and Aldan, the middle part of Yakutia, the basin of the upper and middle Anadyr. Apparently, this subspecies inhabited Kamchatka.
Anadyr squirrel, S.v. anadyrensis Ognev, 1929. Differs from the Yakut squirrel by a greater admixture of dull, brown-gray tint in the winter fur. Distribution: Anadyr Peninsula.
Altai squirrel, S.v. altaicus Serebrennikov, 1928. Similar to the Yenisei squirrel, but brighter in color. In summer, black and black-brown individuals predominate. Distribution: mountains and foothills of Altai, Sayan and Tarbagatai. Acclimatized in the Caucasus.
Kalba squirrel, S.v. kalblnensis Selevin, 1934. Similar to the teleduck, but somewhat darker in winter fur. The tail is bright red, less often brown. Distribution: pine forests on the southern slope of the Kalbinsky ridge (Altai).
Transbaikal squirrel, S.v. fusconigricans Dvigubsky, 1804. Winter fur is dark gray in tone, with gray-black ripples; In summer, black-backed or black-brown-backed animals predominate. Distribution: Transbaikalia, Northern Mongolia.
Manchurian squirrel, S.v. mantchuricus Thomas, 1909. Similar in color to the Transbaikal squirrel, but generally lighter. Most squirrels are blacktails and browntails. Distribution: southern Primorye, Khabarovsk Territory, as well as northeastern China; in the north it reaches 48-49° N. w.
Sakhalin squirrel, S.v. rupestris Thomas, 1907. Close to the Manchurian squirrel, but smaller and with more luxuriant fur. Blacktails predominate. Distribution: Sakhalin, Shantar Islands, Amur region, southern part of the Khabarovsk Territory.
Appearance
This is a small animal with a typical squirrel appearance, with an elongated slender body and a fluffy tail with a “comb”. The length of her body is 19.5-28 cm, her tail is 13-19 cm (about 2/3 of the body length); weight 250-340 g. The head is rounded, with large black eyes. The ears are long, with tufts, especially pronounced in winter. Sensitive vibrissae grow on the muzzle, front legs and belly. The hind limbs are noticeably longer than the forelimbs. Fingers with tenacious sharp claws. The hair on the sides of the tail reaches a length of 3-6 cm, which is why the tail has a flattened shape.
The squirrel's winter fur is tall, soft and fluffy, while its summer fur is coarser, sparse, and short. In terms of color variability, the squirrel holds one of the first places among the animals of the Palaearctic. Its color changes seasonally, among subspecies, and even within the same population. In summer, it is dominated by red, brown or dark brown tones; in winter - gray and black, sometimes with a brown tint. The abdomen is light or white. There are melanistic squirrels with completely black fur and albino squirrels, as well as piebald squirrels whose fur is covered with white spots. Based on the winter color of their tail, squirrels are divided into “red-tailed”, “brown-tailed” and “black-tailed”. Gray tail squirrels are found in the steppe forests of Western Siberia.
The size of squirrels decreases from mountainous to lowland regions, the size of the skull decreases from south to north, and the color becomes lighter towards the center of the range. Black and brown tones winter fur in the Carpathian, Far Eastern and Manchurian subspecies gives way to bluish and ash-gray, most pronounced in teledut squirrels. At the same time, the area of the white area of the abdomen increases in the same direction and the percentage of “redtail” increases.
In general, in squirrels inhabiting the European part of Russia and Western Siberia, the summer fur is predominantly red in color, while in animals from Eastern Siberia and the Far East it is brown or almost black. In winter, the color of the first squirrels is dominated by gray and silver tones with brown tints, and the ridge often remains red (hump-headed). In the latter, dark brown and dark gray tones predominate in winter color.
Habitat
The only representative of the genus of squirrels in the fauna of Russia.
The common squirrel is distributed in the boreal zone of Eurasia from the Atlantic coast to Kamchatka, Sakhalin and Japan (Hokkaido Island). Successfully acclimatized in Crimea, the Caucasus and Tien Shan. More than 40 subspecies of the common squirrel have been described, differing from each other in their coloring features.
In nature
The squirrel is a typical forest inhabitant. Since the basis of its nutrition is the seeds of tree species, it prefers mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, which provide the best feeding conditions. He also loves mature dark coniferous plantations - cedar forests, spruce forests, fir trees; they are followed by larch forests, thickets of dwarf cedar and mixed pine forests. In the north, where mainly pine and larch woodlands grow, its population density is low. In Crimea and the Caucasus she mastered cultural landscapes: gardens and vineyards.
The lifestyle is predominantly arboreal. A squirrel is a living, active animal. She easily jumps from tree to tree (3-4 m in a straight line and 10-15 m in a downward curve), “steering” with her tail. During the snowless period, as well as during the rut, it spends significant time on the ground, where it moves in leaps up to 1 m long. In winter, it moves mainly “on top.” When there is danger, it hides in trees, usually hiding in the crown. Active in the morning and evening hours, spending 60% to 80% of this time searching for food. In the middle of winter, it leaves the nest only for feeding time, and in very coldy and hides in the nest during bad weather, falling into a half-asleep state. Not territorial; individual areas are weakly expressed and overlap.
Large migrations of squirrels are mentioned in ancient Russian chronicles. Sometimes they are caused by drought and forest fires, but more often by failure of the main food crop - seeds coniferous trees and nuts. Migration occurs in late summer and early autumn. Most often, squirrels migrate close to another forest area; but sometimes they make long and long migrations - up to 250-300 km. The nomadic squirrel travels in a wide front (sometimes 100-300 km) alone, without forming significant flocks or aggregations, except near natural obstacles. During migrations, it enters the forest-tundra and tundra, appears in steppe regions, swims across rivers and even sea bays, penetrates islands, crosses bare mountain peaks, and even enters populated areas. At the same time, many animals drown, die from hunger, cold and predators.
In addition to mass migrations, the squirrel is characterized by seasonal migrations associated with the successive maturation of food and the transition of young animals to an independent lifestyle. The young settle in August-September and October-November, sometimes moving 70-350 km from the nesting stations. If there is no food, seasonal movements can turn into migrations. In this case, some of the adult individuals remain in place; from their usual food they switch to low-calorie foods with a high fiber content (buds, lichens, pine needles, bark of young shoots). It is due to this group that the local population is then restored.
The squirrel's diet is very diverse and includes more than 130 types of food, the bulk of which are seeds of coniferous trees: spruce, pine, cedar, fir, larch. In the southern regions, where oak forests grow with an undergrowth of hazel, it feeds on acorns and hazelnuts. In addition, the squirrel consumes mushrooms (especially the deer truffle), buds and shoots of trees, berries, tubers and rhizomes, lichens, and herbaceous plants. Their share in the diet increases markedly when the main feed crop fails. Very often, during a food shortage, the squirrel intensively eats the flower buds of spruce trees, causing damage to these plantings. During the breeding season, it does not disdain animal food - insects and their larvae, eggs, chicks, small vertebrates. After wintering, the squirrel willingly gnaws on the bones of dead animals and visits salt licks. The daily amount of food depends on the season: in the spring, during the rut, the squirrel eats up to 80 g per day, in winter - only 35 g.
For the winter, the squirrel makes small reserves of acorns, nuts, and cones, dragging them into hollows or burying them among the roots, and also dries mushrooms by hanging them on branches. True, she quickly forgets about her warehouses and finds them in the winter by accident, which is used by other animals - birds, small rodents, even Brown bear. At the same time, the squirrel itself uses the reserves of other animals (chipmunks, nutcrackers, mice), which it easily finds even under a 1.5 m layer of snow.
Reproduction
Squirrels are very prolific. In most of the range they produce 1-2 litters, in the southern regions - up to 3. The Yakut squirrel usually has only 1 litter per year. The breeding season, depending on the latitude of the area, food conditions and population density, begins in late January - early March and ends in July-August. During the rut, 3-6 males stay near the female and demonstrate aggression towards competitors - they purr loudly, hit branches with their paws, and run after each other. After mating with the winner, the female builds a brood nest (sometimes 2-3); it is neater and larger in size.
Pregnancy lasts 35-38 days, in a litter of 3 to 10 cubs; in the second litter less. Newborn squirrels are naked and blind, weighing about 8 g. They develop hair on the 14th day and begin to see only on the 30-32nd day. From this moment they begin to leave the nest. They are fed with milk for up to 40-50 days. At the age of 8-10 weeks they leave the mother. Sexual maturity is reached at 9-12 months. Having raised the first litter, the female fattens up somewhat and mates again. The interval between broods is about 13 weeks. In October-November, the squirrel population consists of 2/3, and sometimes 75-80%, of young-of-the-year squirrels.
In captivity, squirrels live up to 10-12 years, but in nature, a squirrel over 4 years old is already old. The proportion of such animals under the most favorable conditions does not exceed 10%. In areas with intensive squirrel hunting, the population is completely renewed in 3-4 years. The mortality rate of young animals is especially high - 75-85% of baby squirrels do not survive their first winter.
The enemies of squirrels are owls, goshawks, pine marten in the European part of Russia, sable in Asian and harza in the Far East. On the ground they are caught by foxes and cats. However, predators do not have a significant impact on the state of populations. Lack of food and epizootics have a much stronger impact on the number of squirrels. Epizootics usually occur in late autumn and develop most in the spring. Squirrels die from coccidiosis, tularemia, hemorrhagic septicemia; they usually have worms, ticks and fleas.
The squirrel sheds 2 times a year, with the exception of the tail, which sheds once a year. Spring molting occurs mainly in April-May, and autumn molting occurs from September to November. The timing of molting strongly depends on the food and meteorological conditions of a given year. In good years, molting begins and ends earlier; in bad years, it is greatly delayed and extended. The spring molt goes from the head to the root of the tail; autumn - in reverse order. Adult males begin to molt earlier than females and young of the year. Molting in squirrels, like all other mammals, is caused by a change in length. daylight hours, which affects the activity of the pituitary gland. Thyroid-stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary gland affects the activity of the thyroid gland, under the influence of which hormone molting occurs.
Captive
Approximate dimensions: height 60 cm, length and width - 50 each. The frame must be metal, covered on all sides with a metal net with meshes of 10-15 mm2. A gable roof is made of tin over the cage. The place for rest is the attic, where there is a round hole. When cleaning, the hole in the nest is closed with a flap so that the squirrel does not jump out of the cage.
Spacious and other favorable conditions for keeping squirrels are a guarantee that they will willingly breed in captivity and will be able to bear viable offspring up to twice a year.
Squirrels usually have two litters per year.
For mating, you need to choose equally strong individuals that are accustomed to each other. There should only be one pair in the enclosure; it needs to be provided with peace and privacy.
The rutting period falls at the end of February, beginning of March.
The duration of pregnancy is 32-34 days.
Newly born cubs are so small that you will not always be able to detect them yourself - they will give themselves away with weak squeaks and squeals. At this time, it is not recommended to look into the house often so as not to disturb the mother squirrel.
Feeding
The squirrel can safely be classified as an “omnivorous” rodent; the main part of its diet is a nut mixture, which includes: hazelnuts (hazelnuts), pine and walnuts, and also a small amount of peanuts. Sunflower, pumpkin, watermelon and melon seeds are also an integral part of this mixture. All components of the mixture must be not fried, not salted, and the nuts must not be shelled, but with shells.
An exception may be a walnut; it can be slightly broken. If possible, spruce and Pine cones In the spring, squirrels happily eat the buds and shoots of deciduous trees.
In nature, the squirrel is by no means a vegetarian; it happily eats animal food: small birds, their eggs, various insects, small invertebrates. In captivity, animal food can be treated more humanely: give the squirrel quail eggs, both raw and cooked. Include mealworms and ant eggs, dry beef and fish bones in your diet - this is a source of calcium and phosphorus.
Squirrels prefer apples, pears and bananas among fruits; they treat vegetables with disdain.
Under no circumstances should you give almonds to squirrels - it acts like a strong poison on them!!!
The squirrel should always have clean water at its disposal.
The drinking bowl must be installed so that the animal does not turn it over while moving around the cage.
REMEMBER!!! Squirrels should not be pampered with food, they must be in constant excitement caused by the search for food, otherwise squirrels often suffer from a cerebral hemorrhage, from which they naturally die
Remember: proteins have a big sweet tooth and you can add various medications to sweet solutions (for example, milk with honey), if the need arises.
During pregnancy, as well as from the moment babies are born, in addition to regular food, milk and cottage cheese are included in the protein diet.
Be sure to monitor the freshness of these products; after eating, excess food must be removed.
As soon as the baby squirrels begin to show interest in the world around them through the hole in the house, and this will happen a month and a half after birth, they can be fed with their own hands. This activity will require a lot of patience from you, but the work will not be in vain, and you will get a perfectly loyal friend who will relentlessly follow his owner wherever he goes.
The best option for feeding young animals is the use of infant formula such as Malysh, etc.
The baby squirrel should be fed milk or formula milk until about 2 months of age, and then it should be methodically switched to real squirrel food.
From this time on, your pet becomes an adult and needs to be fed as an adult animal should.
Lifestyle of the common squirrel - Photo of the common squirrel
Common squirrel
- This is one of the most rodents, which many people treat with sympathy. At first she was a resident of coniferous forests. Now it can be found in city gardens and parks.
DIMENSIONS
Length: 20-32 cm.
Tail length: 19-31 cm.
Weight is 200-1,000 g, depending on the time of year (in summer the squirrel weighs less).
REPRODUCTION
Puberty: from 11 months.
Mating season: December-July.
Pregnancy: 38-44 days.
Number of cubs: 1-6.
Number of litters: 1-2.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: They live in trees. They stay alone.
Food: cones, bark, plant juice, nuts, eggs, mushrooms and insects.
Sounds: sharp “buck-bump-bump”.
Lifespan: usually 2-3 years.
Related SPECIES
Gray squirrel and many other species.
Nowadays common squirrel still common in many forests in Europe and Asia. However, squirrels are becoming increasingly rare in the UK. The size of this squirrel population depends on the availability of food. The main reason for this phenomenon is food competition from the gray squirrel.
LIFESTYLE. With the help of strong hind legs with sharp claws, the common squirrel climbs trees perfectly. It prefers pine forests with rich undergrowth, but has also adapted to life in mixed and deciduous forests. Previously, squirrels were found in rural areas, but now they can increasingly be seen in urban gardens and parks. Squirrels living in city parks and gardens accept food brought to them by people, but their forest relatives try to avoid people.
With the exception of the mating season, squirrels lead a solitary lifestyle. In cold winters, sometimes several animals live in one nest; They probably keep each other warm with their bodies. The squirrels' nest is built from branches and has a spherical shape. The inside is lined with soft plant material. Squirrels that do not have their own nest live in abandoned tree hollows. In addition to the abandoned woodpecker hollow, they can also temporarily settle in the empty nests of magpies or crows. The common squirrel molts twice a year. However, the tail sheds only once during this period. In summer it has a short and delicate reddish-brown coat, which is gradually replaced by a thick and dark winter coat from August to November. The coloring of these squirrels varies greatly not only depending on the species, but also within one species it changes depending on the area, season, age, etc.
REPRODUCTION. The squirrel gives birth to its young when there is enough food in nature. The female can have up to two litters per year. Each litter averages from 2 to 4 baby squirrels. Mating of squirrels can last from December to July (time depends on the region). During the rutting period, several males chase the female. The female chooses the male she likes best and mates only with him. During pregnancy, high up in a tree, she makes a nest of branches, shaped like a ball, with two entrances located on the side. The inside of the nest is lined with soft plants and down. In the first days after giving birth, the female stays close to the nest and regularly feeds the squirrels.
After three weeks, the cubs' eyes open and fur begins to grow. At seven weeks of age, they begin to leave the nest and eat solid food. However, the mother feeds them milk for about three more weeks. 
FOOD . Squirrels lead an active daily lifestyle. They spend their days searching for food, some of which they immediately eat, and the rest they hide in hiding places, thus making supplies for the winter. When the amount of food decreases, squirrels go out in search of food in the morning. The diet of common and gray squirrels is very similar. In England, the number of common squirrels has declined because the gray squirrels living here are their direct food competitors. Throughout the year, squirrels feed on tree seeds - pine and pine cones. They hide most of the food in dense bushes or in an abandoned shelter nest, so that they can later return here and eat. Many people have seen squirrels gnawing on cones. At the same time, the animal holds the cone with its front paws and twirls it, gnawing at the scales under which the seeds are hidden. The menu of squirrels depends on the region in which they live, and, in addition to seeds, usually consists of flowers, young shoots, insects, nuts, rose hips and mushrooms. Squirrels rarely eat acorns. Sometimes in the spring they destroy the nests of small birds, eating their eggs. Foresters don’t like them because they tear off the bark from trees to get to the juicy bast.
Did you know? That most species of squirrels of this genus do not have ear tufts. They only grow in common and North American squirrels. 
Representatives of the genus of baby squirrels are very small animals. Their length reaches a little 7-10 cm.
Another relative of the common squirrel lives in Finland and northern Russia - the flying squirrel. It can cover short distances between trees, gliding with the help of an open, fur-covered flight membrane.
People have always considered the squirrel a friendly animal. Her image is found on mosaics of Romanesque and some Asian cultures.
Tail: Used to maintain balance while moving along branches. In addition, the squirrel hides in it while sleeping. Tail movements indicate the animal's mood.
Vibrissae: long and very sensitive, help in orientation. The squirrel also has sensitive hairs on its front legs, belly and at the base of its tail.
Vision: very sensitive, helps with orientation. The squirrel also has sensitive hairs on its front legs, belly and at the base of its tail.
Winter Coat: The winter coat is thicker and darker than the summer coat. Has an ashen tint. The tassels on the ears become longer.
LIVING PLACE. On the territory of Eurasia from Mediterranean Sea in the south to Scandinavia in the north, in the east to China and Korea.
Preservation. Although squirrel populations depend on the availability of food sources, they are abundant in most European forests. In the UK, the number of common squirrels has declined significantly.
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Squirrels are distributed almost all over the world (with the exception of Australia). The mobile mammal belongs to the rodent family. There are many most various types these animals differ in size, coat color, habits and habitat. They can be woody or earthy, fluffy or not, and there are even prickly specimens. Where a squirrel lives largely depends on what species it belongs to. But they are all quite good-natured and cute animals, causing general delight with their behavior.
Types of squirrels
There are about 200 of them in the world. The most unusual and funny ones live mainly in North America. These include chipmunks and ground striped squirrels, which live in burrows, as well as black, Carolina gray and aberta, which prefer trees. In the Russian Federation, the red-haired representative of this family is more common. It is also called the common squirrel. In some forests there are also flying squirrels, and in southern steppes- chipmunks.
Where it lives and depends on its species. For example, their tails are not as fluffy as those of trees. After all, the latter use them for “steering” when jumping and balancing on branches. But the chipmunk has absolutely no need for such wealth: he gets his food on the ground. Flying squirrels, which jump impressive distances, have paws connected by membranes that can open in the air like a parachute.
Habits of common squirrels
This typical inhabitant of Russian forests, from the taiga to the southern latitudes, is a real beauty. Twice a year (in spring and autumn) she changes her fur coat so that in summer she can flaunt a bright red coat, and in winter she can be less noticeable in a gray, insulated outfit. The common squirrel lives in a hollow, or less often, simply in a nest built in dense branches. Many animals have several such houses. She lives in one and breeds, and uses the rest as storage rooms.
It does not hibernate in winter, and it is quite difficult to obtain acorns and nuts - the main food of this rodent - during cold weather. So the economic animal stores them for a rainy day, hiding them in nests. It’s easy to see how a squirrel lives in the forest if you visit the nearest grove or large park. These animals are quite sociable and often treat people with trust, happily treating themselves to brought treats in the form of nuts or seeds. But we must remember that the squirrel is a wild creature. She has sharp teeth and long claws, so it is better not to feed them by hand, especially to small children.
Tree squirrel diet
The main food of the taiga beauty is pine nuts and acorns. Depending on where the squirrel lives, its menu can be diluted with seeds of other cones, mushrooms, berries and even bird eggs. Yes, this cute and, at first glance, harmless creature often destroys nests. In summer there are no problems with food. But with the onset of cold weather, fallen acorns are covered with snow, mushrooms do not grow, and cones are not so easy to find. But the thrifty animal fills its pantries with supplies in advance. Therefore, in the hollows of trees in the forests where the squirrel lives, you can easily find deposits of nuts and dried mushrooms, acorns and seeds.
If the year turns out to be a lean one, she will not disdain young tree branches, buds and even bark. The squirrel is also capable of moving long distances in search of food. Moreover, animals do this en masse and can run for several days almost without a break. Where squirrels live, there are often bumps with characteristic marks of their teeth. These animals are playing important role in the reproduction of spruce, pine and other plants, spreading their seeds.
Reproduction
Squirrels usually mate twice a year (in spring and autumn). But it happens that the female manages to breed 3 litters of offspring. She finds a groom for season 1. It is difficult to call him the father of the family, because after his participation in the process of conception, he simply runs away. All concerns about raising the offspring, building a nest and the safety of the squirrels are taken upon themselves by their mother. Although there are exceptions when parents feed and protect them in turn.
In spring there are usually fewer cubs (2 to 4). In the fall, after the female has fattened and gained weight, she can give birth to up to a dozen cubs. They are born blind and helpless, but, thanks to the care of their mother, they grow up quite quickly. After just a couple of months, the squirrel can leave its completely independent children and begin to improve its personal life. There are often cases when they are crowded into one nest for a long time. Sometimes the mother also returns to them, but with younger brothers and sisters. By next spring, the babies themselves will be capable of reproducing offspring. Considering how many years squirrels live in their natural environment, this is quite normal. The average duration for tree species does not exceed 4 years, but sometimes reaches 9.
Zoologists have noticed that the squirrel often adopts neighbor's orphan cubs. She drags them into her own nest and cares for them as if they were her own.
Flying squirrels
This is the most remarkable animal from the entire family. It is found in Russian forests and there are about a dozen species on the planet. Despite a number significant differences, both external and behavioral, they are united by the way they move. They can climb trees just like their ordinary relatives. Externally, the animal is not very noticeable - gray in color with a darker back. It can be difficult to spot a flying squirrel. It is perfectly camouflaged in trees and practically does not go down. But if there is a need to cover a distance of several tens of meters at a time, she jumps by spreading her legs and opening her fur-covered membranes, gliding as if on a parachute. With the help of a rather long flexible tail, the animal is able to correct its trajectory. Before “landing,” the flying squirrel moves to a vertical position and clings to the trunk with all its legs. So she can fly from one tree to another, covering up to 50 meters at a time.
Ground squirrels
They live mainly in North America, but are occasionally found in Central Asia. Outwardly, they are more reminiscent of their closest relatives - chipmunks, which can be distinguished by their characteristic striped back. These squirrels live in burrows, where they also build nests and breed offspring. They are not as attractive as regular ones, and lack their main decoration - a large fluffy tail. They have one, but it’s a very ordinary one. The animals feed mainly on nuts, grains and other seeds, and sometimes hunt small insects.
Human influence on animal numbers
Being one of the commercial fur-bearing animals, common squirrel For decades, it was mercilessly exterminated for its own fur. But, thanks to its fertility, it is neither an endangered species nor even a rare one. It was not the fur that played a cruel joke on her, but many squirrels, due to the mass population, were forced to leave their usual habitat, thus disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. First of all, this concerns the taiga regions. But in last years Thanks to the protection of forest lands and the organization of nature reserves, animals feel much more comfortable.
How do squirrels live in captivity?
Surprisingly longer than in nature. Being in a zoo cage or even in ordinary apartment, the squirrel is feeling pretty good. Especially if conditions are created that are close to natural. To do this, you will need several branches and pieces of bark so that she can build a nest for herself. And also a special wheel in which the squirrel will run, compensating for the limited space. With proper care, the animal can live up to 12 years. Moreover, captivity is well tolerated by ordinary red beauties, black beauties, and chipmunks.
The squirrel is a very cute animal belonging to the rodent family. In nature, they do not live very long, but they adapt well in captivity. Squirrels can be very different: large and very tiny, with a luxurious coat and inconspicuous, and they can live in trees and in burrows, depending on the variety.
This nimble red animal (known to zoologists as species name“common squirrel”) is so common in Russian spaces that it has appeared on the coats of arms of cities and villages. Two squirrels adorn the coat of arms of Zelenograd, one adorns the coat of arms of Yakutsk, and a pair of squirrels is depicted on the coat of arms of the village of Yarensk (Arkhangelsk region), which until 1924 had the status of a city.
Description of the common squirrel
The rodent, part of the family, is called Sciurus vulgaris in Latin and has another half-forgotten name - veksha. Of all the representatives of the genus squirrel (and there are 30 species living in Europe, Asia, South and North America), only one single species, the common squirrel, lives in Russia.
Appearance
This cute, fast animal is similar to other squirrel species. The Veksha has a proportionate, slender body that ends in an extremely bushy, somewhat flattened tail ranging from 13 to 19 cm (about 2/3 of the body length). The tail looks flat due to long hairs (3–6 cm) spread out in both directions.
The common squirrel grows to 19–28 cm, gaining a weight of approximately 250–340 g in adulthood. The animal has a rounded head with dark beady eyes and long funny ears, topped with tassels sticking up (they become more noticeable in winter).
Vibrissae, which are especially sensitive, decorate not only the muzzle, but also the front legs and abdomen. The squirrel's belly, by the way, is always lighter than the top or painted white. The front legs are much shorter than the hind legs. The limbs are equipped with sharp, tenacious claws.
Important! The size of the common squirrel decreases from mountainous to lowland regions, the size of the skull also becomes smaller from south to north, and the color of the fur becomes lighter towards the central point of the range.
By the winter cold, the common squirrel grows tall and fluffier fur, but in the summer it changes its structure, turning into short, hard and sparse.
Coloring
In terms of color variability, the weckha is the undoubted leader among the numerous fauna of the vast Palearctic region: it changes the color of its coat depending on the season, subspecies, and even within the boundaries of its population.
In summer, the squirrel's outfit is designed in brown, red or dark brown tones; in winter, the fur becomes gray, sometimes almost black (occasionally with a brown tint). There are also piebalds, whose fur is diluted with white spots, as well as specimens with completely black fur (melanists) and, conversely, with a complete absence of pigment (albinos).
The Far Eastern, Carpathian and Manchurian subspecies of the common squirrel are characterized by brown and black shades of winter coat. And Teleut squirrels (the largest representatives of the veksha in the territory of the former USSR) show in winter a silver-gray and bluish color, as well as a pale gray (with an admixture of black and yellowish-rusty) tail.
Teleut squirrels belong to the so-called gray tail squirrels (which is determined by the winter color of the tail). Along with them, Vekshas are divided into “brown-tailed”, “red-tailed” and “black-tailed”.
Shedding
The change of fur in the common squirrel, like in most animals, occurs twice a year.. The squirrel tail has its own periodicity of fur renewal: it sheds only once a year. Spring molt occurs, as a rule, in April - May, and autumn molt occurs from September to November.
As is known, the molting of all mammals is controlled by the length of daylight hours, which regulates the functioning of the pituitary gland. The latter produces thyrotropin, which (in turn) acts on the activity of the thyroid gland, which triggers molting.
This is interesting! Sexually mature males always begin to molt earlier than females and young yearlings born in the current year. The spring change of fur goes from the head to the base of the tail, and the autumn change - from the root of the tail to the head.
The timing of molting is very variable, as it depends on the availability of food and climatic conditions. When the food supply is plentiful, the replacement of squirrel fur begins and ends earlier; during lean periods, it is not only delayed, but also extended.
Lifestyle, character
This active rodent is not territorial, so the individual areas of the squirrel are usually not only not expressed, but are often layered one on top of the other.
Veksha leads a predominantly arboreal lifestyle, showing particular vigor in the morning and evening hours. It is at this time that she scours the forest in search of food, which takes 60–80% of her active time. Noticing danger, it prefers to hide in the crown of a tree.
The squirrel easily flies from one tree to another, covering 3–4 m in a straight line and 10–15 m in a downward arc, using its tail as a rudder. In winter, in order not to freeze its paws, it jumps more on the tops. IN mating season, and also in the absence of snow, it usually moves along the ground (by jumps of up to 1 m).
In the most severe frosts and when bad weather is rampant, she is able to sit in a shelter without interruption, falling into half-asleep. Only a persistent feeling of hunger can force the veksha to come out of hiding in winter.
Where does the squirrel live?
Whatever the squirrel house is, it will always be located on a tree. IN deciduous forest The squirrel loves to settle in hollows, filling them with tree lichens, grass and dry leaves.
IN coniferous forest she usually builds nests (25–30 cm in diameter), placing them at a height of 7–15 m among dense branches. The veksha gives such a nest, called a gayn, the shape of a ball, lining it inside with leaves, hairs, moss and grass.
This is interesting! In order not to bother with building a nest, the squirrel occupies the birdhouse. Males do not bother building their own nest, but settle into housing left by females or in the empty nests of magpies, blackbirds and crows.
Information about large-scale migrations of squirrels can be found in old Russian chronicles.
Migrations occur at the end of summer - beginning of autumn, and the motivating factor is often forest fires and drought, but more often - a meager harvest of the main squirrel food, nuts or seeds of coniferous trees.
Long-distance and prolonged migrations of 250–300 km are rare: as a rule, squirrels move more modest distances to the neighboring forest area.
When migrating, rodents jump alone, but form a wide front (approximately 100–300 km), without forming flocks or large groups. Massiveness is observed only in front of natural obstacles.
During migrations, the squirrel crosses many natural areas and barriers, including:
- steppe;
- tundra and forest-tundra;
- islands;
- sea bays and rivers;
- Mountain peaks;
- settlements.
Migrations are always accompanied by the death of squirrels, who drown, freeze, die from exhaustion and fall into the teeth of predators.
Along with mass migrations, seasonal migrations are observed, which are associated with the transition of young animals to independent life, as well as with stepwise maturation of feed. Seasonal migrations due to lack of food are transformed into migrations.
The dispersal of young weckhas occurs in August/September and October/November, when they move 70–350 km from their native nests.
True, some mature squirrels remain in place. They only change the composition of the diet, switching to low-calorie vegetation with a high concentration of fiber:
- lichens;
- kidneys;
- bark of young shoots;
- pine needles
It is this group of rodents that becomes the basis for the restoration of the local squirrel population.
Lifespan
In nature, squirrel is measured very short term life: an individual over 4 years old is considered old. Such “long-livers” make up no more than 10% of the population. But in captivity (without enemies and with good food), wecksha lives up to 10–12 years.
Range, habitats
The common squirrel (represented by 40 subspecies) has chosen the boreal zone of the Eurasian continent from the shores of the Atlantic to Kamchatka, Sakhalin and Island. Hokkaido.
The animal has infested Siberia, the Far East and the European part of Russia. The first squirrels entered Kamchatka around 1923–24. Veksha even adapted to life in the Tien Shan, and in the Caucasus and Crimea it became accustomed to cultural landscapes (vineyards and gardens).
The squirrel, as a typical forest dweller, prefers mixed coniferous-deciduous forests with an abundant food supply (seeds of tree species).
In addition, the animal willingly settles in such plantings as:
- cedar forests;
- thickets of dwarf cedar;
- spruce forests;
- larch trees;
- fir forests;
- mixed pine forests.
It has been noticed that the density of the squirrel population decreases in those northern regions where pine and larch woodlands predominate.
Nutrition of the common squirrel
The gastronomic interests of the veksha are extensive (over 130 items), but the main food is the seeds of conifers, including common pine, spruce, Siberian cedar, larch and fir. In the southern regions, where there are many oak forests (with thickets of hazel), it readily gnaws hazelnuts and acorns.
When the main food crop fails, the protein goes to the buds and shoots of trees, rhizomes and tubers, lichens, berries, herbaceous plants and mushrooms (preferring the deer truffle).
When there is a shortage of food, the squirrel turns into a pest, eating the flower buds of spruce trees. During love games, it often switches to animal food - insects with larvae, chicks, eggs and small vertebrates.
The squirrel is prudent and stores up nuts, acorns and pine cones for winter, stuffing them into hollows or burying them between roots. In addition, she dries mushrooms by hanging them among the branches. Veksha has a short memory: she forgets about her storage sheds and stumbles upon them by accident.
This is interesting! Squirrel “sclerosis” is used by other forest inhabitants (bears, rodents and birds), who eat its “canned food”. However, the Veksha pays them in the same coin, finding supplies made by mice, chipmunks and nutcrackers under a 1.5 m layer of snow.
Coming out of the winter, the squirrel does not disdain the bones of dead animals and visits the salt licks. The daily food intake varies depending on the season: in the spring, during the breeding season, the squirrel eats up to 80 g, in winter - no more than 35 g.