• 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.
• 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.
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