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Christine Smith

Meet the Black Squirrel | Scienceray - 0 views

scienceray.com/...meet-the-black-squirrel

shared by Christine Smith on 08 Oct 10 - Cached
  • This is the black squirrel.  Out of the squirrel population of the United States and Canada perhaps only one in ten thousand is black.  However, this is not a separate species in itself.  It is in fact a sub-group of the grey squirrel and, little by little their numbers are growing.  In fact in some areas they outnumber the greys.  However, this black coloring is not a recent trend among the squirrel community – research indicates that in the days before the European settlement of the America the black squirrel was probably much more numerous than the grey. 
  • The Black Squirrel does have some natural advantages over the grey, not least in its photogenic appeal to photographers who still work in black and white.  Instead of being a separate species, the Black Squirrel is in fact what is known as a melanistic subgroup.  Midwestern North America is their stomping ground although there are groups to be found in the UK (more of which later).  Melanism is caused by an increased level of black pigmentation, a compound which determines color called melanin.  This subgroup of the Eastern Grey has stacks of melanin and these melanistic traits are the opposite of albinism which occurs when flora or fauna have a lack of the compound.
  • It’s all about natural selection, so it seems.  The Black Squirrels (I am inclined to shorten this to BS but it has rather unfortunate implications) can be found wherever the greys live.  It is quite common for two greys to mate and to produce a mixture of black and grey offspring.  It seems that the blacks were more common than the greys before European settlement because their darker color enabled them to hide in the dark forests which covered the continent at that time.
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  • You have probably seen the grey. You may even have encountered or at least heard of the red. However, have you ever seen a black squirrel? Take a look at this small but dark beasty of the forest. Oh, and they are really, really cute.
Christine Smith

A Squirrel Place Facts Section - 0 views

www.squirrels.org/facts.html

shared by Christine Smith on 08 Oct 10 - Cached
  • 365 species of squirrels in seven families.
  • "Rodentia",
  • The males will chase a females, as well as, chase off other suitors. This ritual of chasing, occurs through the trees at top speed.  While they perform some of the most breathtaking acrobatics imaginable.
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  • Squirrels are usually born in the early spring. The average litter consists of four. This varies with climate and location.  A second litter can occur in mid summer,  if there is an adequate food supply. A female squirrel will choose the strongest male during mating season, but is unlikely to breed with that male again. This is natures way of reducing inbreeding,  and to preserve the species. A baby squirrel weighs approximately one ounce at birth,  and is about one inch long. They do not have hair or teeth, and are virtually blind for the first six to eight weeks.
  • During winter storms, or severe cold, the squirrel may not leave the nest for days.   But,  the tree squirrel does not hibernate!
  • An adult squirrel normally lives alone. But will, in severe cold, share its nest with other squirrels to conserve body heat. Once the temperature rises, the guests will be on their way.
  • Squirrels eyes are located high, and on each side of their head.  This allows them a wide field of vision, without turning their head.
  • The gray squirrels diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit. It will eat bird eggs, bugs, and even an animal carcass if there is no other food source available.
  • Squirrels communicate through a series of chirps. The frequency,  and the duration of the notes communicate everything from laughter to alarm. Their frequency range is normally between .01 KHz. and 10 KHz. (kilohertz). These sounds when used in conjunction with tail gestures, form the basis for squirrel  communication.
  • A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut.
  • The average adult squirrel needs to eat about a pound of food a week to maintain an active life.
  • A squirrel will break the shell of a nut with its teeth, then clean the nut by licking it or rubbing on its face before it is buried. This action applies a scent to the nut which helps the squirrel find it later, even under a foot of snow.
  • 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. If it is in a tree, it will circle the trunk with its body pressed tightly to the bark.
  • The squirrel's erratic path while crossing a street is an attempt to confuse the oncoming vehicle... thereby causing it to change direction. This is obliviously the squirrels biggest, and often last mistake.
  • The male tree squirrel takes twice as long, as the female, to groom itself. They are the cleanest animal in the rodent family.
  • A squirrels teeth grow continuously. Their incisor's will grow six inches per year, but stay short due to the constant wear they receive. The most common type of squirrel bite is a result of feeding a squirrel by hand. Never hold the food between your fingers, chances are very good you will be bitten. A squirrel's eyes are always looking for predators and they rarely focus on what they are eating.
  • 1650 species, it is the largest group of living mammals.  It also comprises forty percent of all present day mammal species.
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