COLUMN: Our neighbors – the squirrels

THE NATURE OF THINGS
By: 
Michele Olson
Jones County Naturalist

     If you’ve ever lived in an Iowa community – rural town or big city – I’m sure you’ve met your neighbors “the squirrels.”

     Gray and fox squirrels are common in our local communities and can offer some very entertaining wintertime wildlife viewing.   Tree squirrels don’t hibernate, and although they do collect and store food for hard times in the winter, they stay busy and visibly active, except during the most extreme winter weather. If you feed the birds, you either like squirrels or you don’t. Some people have tons of fun trying to outwit these smart rodents and other people get rather angry as squirrels continually outwit them.

     The Latin word Sciurus means squirrel, and is derived from the Greek words skia (shadow) and oura (tail). As you watch a squirrel sitting with its tail curled over its back you can understand the meaning of “shadow tail.” Squirrels use their tail to provide balance, shade, protection from rain and snow, warmth, communication, and even as a parachute. It is a very important part of a tree squirrel and helps distinguish them from other rodents.

     Gray and fox squirrels can come in a variety of colors. In fact, in Iowa, gray and fox squirrels can be black-furred, rare albino (white) or many different variations mixed with yellow-to-reddish brown. Some communities are well-known for their black squirrels. Overall gray squirrels are grayer and fox squirrels are more rusty orange and slightly larger than grays.

     Squirrels have chisel-like front teeth, sharp claws, and strong legs. They also have clusters of sensitive whiskers on their faces and front legs to help them navigate while climbing trees. Tree squirrels are active during the day, which is one reason they are so fun and easy to watch. They are also somewhat territorial and will chase intruders from their “home turf.” Late winter is mating season in Iowa, so squirrels will be even more active with some awesome acrobatic chases taking place.

     Squirrels love to eat nuts and seeds. They usually live near trees like oaks, walnut, hickory, and maples that provide lots of easily accessible food. In addition, they will look for and eat pine cone seeds, other available seeds, berries, grains, mushrooms, insects, small animals, and spring buds, flowers, and leaves. Squirrels spend a lot of time in the fall stashing nuts and seeds away for winter. They can find a nut they’ve buried under a foot of snow by using their sense of smell and memory. I know many people who enjoy feeding the squirrels. In fact, many specialized squirrel feeders can be found in stores or made from scratch. Did you know squirrels teeth grow continuously? Their incisors will grow six inches per year, but stay short due to the constant wear they receive.

     Tree squirrels prefer to live in tree cavities but will build a nest if they have to. If you see a big clump of leaves and branches at the top of a tree, it is probably a squirrel nest. These nests are made with leafy twigs, leaves, grass, feathers, and sometimes fur. Squirrels have been known to build their nest in many unusual places including in automobiles, chimneys, barbecue grills, under porches and even in the attics or crawl spaces of our homes.

     My family and I recently watched the amusing and brash holiday classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” during which a squirrel ends up loose in the house. This movie does a pretty good job of depicting the terror and damage a squirrel loose in your home can create. While the chase was in progress we laughed as curtains flew and people screamed as the fuzzy blur raced up furniture, walls, and everything else in its way. Just as in real life, the show’s homeowners and dog chased the frantic squirrel around the room for several minutes before they were finally able to get the squirrel out an open door.

     Once wild squirrels survive their first year, they average 3-5 years old if they don’t get eaten by a predator or run over by a car. Predators include dogs, cats, foxes, bobcats, great horned owls, hawks, snakes, and even human hunters. Squirrels’eyes are located high on each side of their head, allowing them a wide field of vision. When a squirrel senses danger, its first instinct is to stand motionless; if on the ground it will race to the closest tree or other climbable object to escape; and if it is in a tree it will circle the trunk with its body pressed tightly to the bark.

     Squirrels communicate in many ways. They use a variety of sounds, including barks, chatters, and screams. They also communicate through their behavior. It’s fun to watch squirrels interacting around your home. For instance, squirrels may threaten and scold each other or an intruder by standing upright with their tails flicking over their backs as they chatter, or they might chase each other through the tree tops.

     Whether you’re a squirrel fan or not, squirrels give us a glimpse of life in the harsh winter landscape. They offer free entertainment and sometimes some hilarious feeder fun. I hope you have a chance to be entertained by our neighbors – “the squirrels.”

 

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