American red squirrel

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

 

Facts about this animal

The American red squirrel is one of the smaller tree squirrels, head and body measuring 16-23 cm, and the tail 9-16 cm. Body-weight ranges from about 140-310 grams.

 

Like in its Eurasian cousin, the colour of the fur is highly variable depending of region and season. The upper parts are usually brownish or reddish. During the summer, a black stripe runs along their side, separating the upper parts from the white or creamy belly. The tail, which is is not as thick or bushy as in other North American tree squirrels, is often edged with white. There are white bands encircling their large, black eyes.

 

American red squirrels are well adapted for climbing and running through the trees with their compact, muscled bodies, strong claws, and powerful hind limbs, but they also spend much time on the ground. An individual usually has several nests, which may either be loosely constructed tree nests, holes in a tree trunk or weather-tight winter nests constructed in the densest foliage of a tree.

 

Breeding seasons vary depending of the climatic zone. After a gestation periond of 33-35 days, the female gives birth, in a lined den or tree hollow, to a litter of 1 to 8, typically 2 to 5 young. The young develop very quickly and are weaned 7 to 8 weeks after birth.

 

American red squirrels feed on acorns, hazelnuts, other seeds of deciduous trees, berries, fruit, shoots, birds' eggs, mushorooms, and strips conifer cones to get at the seeds within, or occasionally may remove the bark of trees to get access to the tree sap. They also take fledglings, mice and even young rabbits.

 

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 79 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

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Photo Copyright by
D. Gordon E. Robertson