Squirrels Grow Forests

Squirrelly Forests
Gray squirrels’ faulty memories turn out to be good for forests, but the nut-hoarding habits of their red cousins are not, according to scientists.

The bane of suburban gardeners and backyard bird feeders, the ubiquitous gray squirrel buries walnuts, acorns and other nuts across the landscape in a pattern called "scatter hoarding," a Purdue University researcher said.

Some nuts are forgotten and have a chance to germinate and sprout into black walnut, oak and hickory trees needed to regenerate steadily retreating hardwood forests.

The red squirrel, which invaded the U.S. Midwest from higher latitudes within the past century, usually piles nuts in a few above-ground caches, where the seeds dry out or are eaten.

Seven times as many walnuts gathered by gray squirrels germinate compared with walnuts hoarded by red squirrels, ecologist Rob Swihart said in a statement released by Indiana University.

Fur-Ball Facts

• Squirrel fish have large and deep brown eyes just like our little tree squirrels. And that is why they are called squirrel fish. So if you think your squirrel is acting a little fishy—there’s a reason.

• The gray squirrel’s success has a lot to do with his ability to vary his diet from location to location and season to season. One was once observed rolling goose eggs almost as big around as himself away from an unguarded nest.

• Gray squirrels have acute vision, acute hearing and a cute little furball face.

The flying squirrel uses his tail as a rudder when he glides from branch to branch, sometimes a distance of 200 feet or more. Gliding on a thin membrane on each side of his body, connecting his front and back legs, is what makes this all possible.

"A more gentle, docile, and graceful animal than the flying squirrel does not exist; and though without anything striking in the way of color or markings, it is nevertheless one of the most beautiful of our mammals."
—C. Hart Merraim

You Caved in to Squirrel Pressure

Estate planning for your squirrel is not so far- fetched. You have to think of your squirrel’s future. You aren’t going to be around forever, you know. The best thing you can do for your squirrel is challenge him. Spend some time on an elaborate baffling system. If you can make your squirrel use his head, he will be able to deal with others if something happens to you.

Whomever he deals with is going to be a whole lot smarter than you, so your furball will have to learn to handle the daily challenges that will be hurled at him. You like to tell everyone you’re easy on your squirrel and that you prefer to feed him, but let’s face it, he beat you. He outsmarted you and you’re too ashamed to admit it.

You caved in to squirrel pressure and that is why you feed him. Go ahead, say it! Self-denial is a dangerous mental health condition. You have to be truthful with yourself. It’s not that you’re all that stupid. A squirrel is really a smart animal.

The way to challenge your squirrel is to start with a simple obstacle to the feeder and then add more degrees of difficulty. Your squirrel will work on one item at a time and assign it to memory. He never forgets a tactic once it’s developed. It is very entertaining to watch a squirrel go through 27 obstacles to get to one bird feeder.

It’s not only good for the squirrel, but this way you can also tell your friends you haven’t given up and given in to a squirrel with a masters degree in making you look like a fool.

--Keep Smilin', Dick E. Bird

Furball Facts #2

• The intelligence and agility of the squirrel is truly amazing. With a little practice, they can learn to walk on utility wires, climb metal poles and jump to bird feeders from swaying limbs, buildings or poles.

• Squirrels are not dumb animals and many hunters return home empty-handed. Man is not the only enemy it must watch for. From the air hawks and owls are a threat, on the ground it must be wary of dogs, coyotes, foxes, bobcats and even house cats. In the northern woods the marten pursues it with skill.

The tail of a squirrel is used as an umbrella in the rain and to whip unruly youngsters. There have been reports of two or more getting their tails tangled and having no success untangling them, in some cases leading to starvation.

Grounded Squirrels
They are called ground squirrels for good reason; they spend the majority of their lives in underground burrows. They hibernate underground for months, sleep underground during the summer, avoid predators and inclement weather by retreating underground, and litters are born and raised underground.

With so much of their lives spent underground, the burrow itself is a complex network of winding tunnels and chambers. Burrow systems can extend up to 12 yards underground and go as deep as a yard. A single burrow system can have five or more exits, five grass-lined sleeping chambers, a lavatory and in winter a hibernaculum—the hibernation chamber.

The hibernaculum is a closed system consisting of the hibernaculum chamber, a drain tunnel to carry away moisture and an exit tunnel that reaches almost to the surface. In spring, the animal emerges above ground by digging the exit tunnel to the surface.