Wildlife Fact File - Mammals - Pgs. 41-50

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CARD 41

COMMON HAMSTER ~~--------------------------~~~~~~~~ GENUS & SPECIES FAMILY ORDER Cricetus cricetus ~ Rodentia Muridae

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 8-14 in. Tail: 1-2 in. Weight: 4-32 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Females are receptive at 43 days old. Breeding season: Early AprilAugust. Gestation: 18-20 days. No. of young: 4-12. Weaning period: 3 weeks. LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary, lives in complex system of burrows. Diet: Feeds mainly on grasses, seeds, grain, legume crops, and root vegetables. Lifespan: 2 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 24 species of hamster grouped in 5 genera. The common hamster is the only species in its genus.

Range of the common hamster.

DISTRIBUTION Originally only in eastern Europe and western Asia, the common hamster penetrated west to Belgium and east into the Soviet Union with the spread of agriculture. CONSERVATION Numbers have been reduced through modern farming methods, but as it can live in semi-arid habitats and has a high reproduction rate, the species is not endangered.

THE COMMON HAMSTER'S BURROWS I

Fur: Reddish colored with black underbelly and black and

The common hamster was once widespread from Belgium across central Europe to the Soviet Union. Although' its numbers have been reduced, it is still found on plains and in pastures.

Pouches: Filled with food to take to its burrow for storage.

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Tunnel entrance; Usually 6-8 entrances lea~jji'1g to chambers . I

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Related to the golden hamster which is often kept as a pet, the common hamster is a truly wild mammal. Its legs are so short that its furry body almost touches the ground as it scurries around its grassy habitat searching for food.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The common hamster feeds mainly at night on plant matter including grass, clover, beans, lentils, grains, flowers, seeds, rooted vegetables, and the green parts of plants. It will also eat insects, lizards, frogs, small birds, field mice, and its favo rite-ea rthwo rms. If a number of hamsters inhabit the same area, food shortages can force the population to find new feedLeft: The common hamster lives near rivers, and in fields, pastures, and scrubland.

Below: Largely plant-eating, the hamster will also eat small mammals, insects, and lizards.

The hamster prefers dry, sandy soil where it can dig its underground burrows and runways easily. It inhabits all types of grassy and cultivated land. It can also be found on lowland hills up to an altitude of 2,000 feet. The hamster lives in a burrow year round, digging different burrows according to season. Its burrow can be extensive-the size depends on the age of the animal. In some areas where the soil

and vegetation are suitable, many burrows may be crowded into one small area. In the winter, the hamster withdraws to its burrow and closes up the entrances with soil. It hibernates in the burrow in a grass-lined nest. Although its body temperature drops from 90° F to 39° F, it is not a true hibernator because it does not survive off its fat, but wakes every 5-7 days to feed from the stored food supply.

Right: Usually a placid animal, the hamster has been known to attack humans when threatened.

ing grounds. During such a journey, the hamster may swim across large rivers. Toward the end of fall, the hamster collects food to store for the coming winter. It carries rooted vegetables between its front teeth and fills its cheek pouches full of beans and other seeds with its extremely coordinated front paws. Once it is in the burrow, it uses its paws to squeeze its cheeks to empty the food into a chamber which it has specially excavat~d for the purpose.

~ COMMON HAMSTER &: MAN Over much of its range, the common hamster is numerous and is considered a pest because it digs up rooted vegetables and eats grass, clover, and bean crops. It destroys wheat plants while attempting to get to the grains at the top of the stalks. Still, modern agricultural

methods have led to a heavy decline in its numbers, particularly in central Europe. Over the years, it has also been hunted and trapped for its fur. When threatened, the common hamster can become very fierce, and has been known to attack both dogs and humans.

~ BREEDING Common hamsters breed throughout late spring and summer. During this time, they produce a number of litters. The males move into the females' burrows while breeding, but are quickly driven out after mating. After an 18-20 day gestation period, 4-12 blind and naked young are born in a nest chamber within the burrow. They weigh only a half ounce at birth, but within a week, even though their eyes

are still closed, they will begin to nibble at grass. Their eyes open after 2 weeks, by which time they have grown a thick coat of fur. They are completely weaned at 3 weeks. The female is extremely protective of her young. If they are threatened, she gathers them into her mouth, either by putting them into her cheek pouches or laying them across the toothless area between the incisors and molars.

DID YOU KNOW? • When packed full of food, the common hamster1s cheek pouches can extend back beyond its shoulder blades. • Hamsters are good swimmers and it is thought they achieve buoyancy by inflating their cheek pouches with air. • The common hamster

belongs to the largest mammalian group, consisting of over a thousand species. The group includes rats, mice, voles, lemmings, and gerbils. • One hamster's winter burrow was found to contain 200 pounds of seeds, legumes, and rooted vegetables.

' " CARD 42

WARTHOG ,,~------------------------------------~ ORDER FAMILY GENUS & SPECIES ~

Artiodactyla

Suidae

Phacochoeru5 aethiopicu5

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KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Body, 46-60 in. Tail, 18 in. Height: 30 in. to shoulder. Weight: 1 30-265 lb.

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BREEDING Sexual maturity: 18 months. Gestation: 171-175 days. Litter size: 3-4, but up to 7 have been recorded . LIFESTYLE Habit: Live in family groups called sounders. Will use abandoned aardvark dens or sometimes hollows under rocks. Diet: Mainly grasses and herbs, but also tubers and bulbs. Lifespan: 12 years in captivity. RELATED SPECIES The warthog is the only species of its kind, but it is related to the giant forest hog and the bush pig .

Range of the warthog .

DISTRIBUTION The warthog has a wide distribution over the open grasslands of central, eastern, and southern Africa south of the Sahara, and also in the very dry Sahel region . CONSERVATION The warthog is not thought to be in danger of extinction, although many tribespeople hunt it for sport and meat.

FEATURES OF T HE WARTHOG

Knee pads: The warthog is very unusual in that it has to get down on its knees to feed . Th is is due to its short neck and relatively long legs. Because of this, it has developed special horny skin pads to protect its knees. Warts: The warthog has two warts on each side of its face. They are most prominent on the male and can be a means of distinguishing it from the female.

The warthog s unsightly appearance makes it one of the most unusual animals roaming the grasslands of Africa. When protecting its family, the warthog will ferociously defend against predators.

Tusks: The curled upper pair of tusks, 12 in. or more in length , are tipped with enamel which soon wears away. The much shorter and sharper lower tusks are entirely coated with enamel. ©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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The warthog gets its name from the four gristly warts that protrude from the sides of its face. It is not known for certain what purpose the warts serve. One explanation is that they are used as a weapon, or, alternatively, as a defense in fending off blows

Below: Wallowing in muddy

from other warthogs.

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BREEDING During breeding season, the male warthog follows the female wherever she goes, often circling her until she is ready to mate. Throughout this

water holes enables the warthog to stay cool in the heat.

courtship ritual, the male makes a noise that sounds lik~ a clattering motor. When the female becomes pregnant, she leaves the family group and finds a den where no other warthogs are living. She gives birth to a litter of two to four young. The young are grayish pink in color. They are very

sensitive to the cold, so to keep warm, they stay huddled together in the den for the first few days. The mother leaves the den for most of the day, returning periodically to feed the young. After a week, the young venture out of the den for short periods, until they eventually return only at night.

FOOD & HUNTING The warthog grazes mainly on short grasses and herbs. Because of its short neck, it must get down on its knees to feed (see back page). The warthog's eyes are set very high and far back on its forehead, so that it can watch for predators while feeding. It also feeds on leaves and fruit and, in some areas, on bulbs and tubers. Although the warthog is usually silent, it grunts when feeding. Top left: Warthogs mate after a

sometimes lengthy period of noisy courtship by the male. Middle left: The average litter size is usually 3-4, although the sow may raise up to 7 piglets. Bottom left: The family unit is important in protecting the young against predators.

DID YOU KNOW?

~ HABITS The warthog lives in a family group called a sounder, consisting of a male and female and one or more successive litters. Its preferred habitat is the open plains and grasslands of Africa, especially where there is a good water source in which it can wallow and drink. It has also been found in the arid Sahel region, bordering the Sahara Desert. The warthog makes its den either under a rock or in a sheltered burrow, but, more

often, it will sleep and breed in abandoned aardvark dens. When the family enters the underground den, the young climb down head first. An adult is always last to enter, and slides in backwards, facing the entrance with its tusks should any predator try to attack. The warthog is renowned for its courage and ferocity in defending its family. The combination of speed (it can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour) and two sets of

tusks is enough to fend off most predators. Although it has poor eyesight, it has a good sense of smell and acute hearing. The warthog'S only real threat comes from lions and leopards. Adult males, or boars, occasionally fight among themselves, putting on a good show of bravado. With manes bristling, and heads lowered, the boars will push and shove, trying to unbalance their opponent. They can inflict severe wounds with their tusks.

• Warthogs wallow in mud to keep cool . They do not have sweat glands. • The warthog has a long, tasseled tail which is kept erect when it runs . • Although it is usually active only during the day, it will occasionally feed on moonlit nights. • The adult warthog is gray or black, but it may appear red or yellow due to a layer of mud clinging to it. • A warthog will attack humans if threatened . In 1965, a zookeeper at Duisburg Zoo in West Germany was killed by a warthog thought to be tame.

KEY FACTS

"" CARD 43

REINDEER ,,~----------------------------------------~ .... FAMILY .... ORDER .... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Artiodactyla

~ Cervidae

SIZES Height to shoulder: 34-55 in. Length: 48-86 in . Length of antlers: Males, 20-50 in. Females, 9-20 in. Weight: 200-600 lb.

~ Rangifer tarandus

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BREEDING Sexual maturity: 29-41 months. Mating season: August to November. Gestation: About 8 months. No. of young: Usually 1. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Herds may number several thousand. Diet: Lichens, mosses, grasses. Call: Snort when alarmed . Males roar in rutting season. Lifespan: 12-15 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 36 species of deer grouped in 16 genera. Some scientists recognize various subspecies of reindeer.

Range of the reindeer.

DISTRIBUTION Reindeer are found around the North Pole, extending down into North America, Greenland, Europe, Scandinavia, and the Soviet Union . CONSERVATION Extensive hunting over the years has led to a significant decline in numbers, but its economic and domestic importance should guarantee its survival.

FEATURES OF THE REINDEER Antlers: Used by

Coat: Thick, with a heavy, dense coat of woolly underfur. Waterproofed by stiff guard hairs on top.

both sexes for defense. The male also uses his to fight other males over a mate.

claws: Touch ground only when animal is walking; also help to give maximum area of support.

Hooves: Broad, flat, and deeply cleft, so that the feet can spread wide apart during each step to give maximum support on marshy ground or snow.

The reindeer is a majestic animal that inhabits the frozen arctic tundra. It has adapted remarkably to a harsh and barren habitat where food is scarce much of the year. © MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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~ FOOD & FEEDING

The reindeer is best known, if only in legend, for pulling Santa's sleigh. Yet, many nomadic tribes today rely on the reindeer for transportation. The animal also provides them with food, clothing, and other useful materials.

~ HABITS The reindeer inhabits the bleak arctic plain, or tundra, and the surrounding forest and mountain areas. Within this harsh, freezing-cold environment, reindeer live together in herds. The smallest herd may contain 20 animals, while the largest may include thousands. The herd is almost constantly on the move during daylight hours, searching for food. The reindeer has poor eyesight and uses its more highly developed sense of smell to find food and detect danger. Every spring, each reindeer herd joins with many others to migrate to the summer

grazing grounds. Herds of as many as 200,000 animals head for the open tundra, where they break up into smaller groups to graze. In the fall, they regroup to return to their wintering grounds. The herd moves fairly quickly, since a reindeer's maximum running speed is 40-50 miles per hour. However, their average speed while migrating is approximately 18 miles per hour. The reindeer is an excellent swimmer. Aided by a thick coat that traps air and gives good buoyancy in the water, it can easily swim across wide streams, rivers, and channels.

Above: With food scarce during the harsh winter, a herd of reindeer adults and young migrates in search of grazing pastures.

The reindeer is a plant eater and eats a wide variety of vegetation. The mainstay of its diet are the lichens and tough grass that grow on the tundra . In the spring, the reindeer will graze the newly sprouted shoots of grass and shrubs. The green leaves of birches and willows are eaten at the summer grazing grounds. During the harsh winter months, the reindeer has a difficult time finding enough to eat. It will dig holes in the snow several feet deep to get to the lichens and mosses underneath. At the same

time, it feeds on the twigs of any shrubs it finds under or above the snow.

Because they are born in early summer, the calves have enough time to feed and grow strong before the fall migration, when predators are most likely to attack. The calf's antlers begin to grow when the animal is a year old. When the reindeer is fully grown, its antlers are long and branch out near the

bottom, becoming palmate (like a hand with spread fingers) at the top. The male sheds his antlers in November or December after the rut. The female loses hers after giving birth.

Below: A velvet coating peels away from the male's antlers every year after he reaches adulthood.

• The reindeer is the only species of deer in which the female has horns-perhaps to help her compete for scarce food supplies. • A day-old reindeer calf can outrun a man. • Male reindeer have inflatable pouches of skin under their

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throats. This amplifies the roar during the rutting season . • Reindeer make a clicking noise as they walk. The sound is produced by a tendon sliding over a bone in the foot. • The North American caribou is the same species as the reindeer, but it cannot be domesticated .

~ REINDEER & MAN

~ BREEDING The reindeer mates sometime between August and November, depending on location, but mostly in October. This is known as the rutting season, and the male becomes very aggressive, fighting with other males as he competes to win control of a harem of 5 to 15 females. As the time approaches to give birth, the female leaves the herd and chooses a secluded spot. She usually returns to the same spot each year to calve, or bear young. The calf is born between late May and early June, when the herd is at the summer grazing grounds. It weighs 11-20 pounds and can stand within minutes after being born. It suckles until it is five to six months old. Unlike many baby deer, the reindeer fawn's coat is not marked with camouflaging spots.

I DID YOU KNOW?

Below: Not only does the female reindeer care for her own calf, but she may on occasion care for the calf of another female.

The reindeer is a valuable and important animal to the nomadic tribes of the arctic regions, especially the Lapps. It is the only deer that can be domesticated. It provides meat, butter, cheese, clothing, and transportation. Its antlers and bones are used to make tools and utensils, and the tough sinews in its legs are used to make thread. The reindeer's range has decreased dramatically due to extensive hunting and the destruction of its natural habitat by man. The building of hydroelectric power plants has caused rivers to be diverted and large dams to be constructed in Canada and Siberia. The altering of the natural landscape obstructs reindeer migration routes and causes thousands to drown.

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KEY FACTS

"'" CARD 44

CALIFORNIA SEA LION

~~-----------------FAMILY

. . ORDER ~ Pinnipedia

Otariidae

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GROUP 1:

GENUS & SPECIES ~ Zalophus califomianus

MAMMALS~~~) ~!I

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SIZES Length: Males, 7 ft. Females, 6 ft. Weight: Males, 600 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Males, 5-7 years. Females, 4-5 years. Mating season: May-June in California. October-December in the Galapagos. Gestation: 11 months. Litter size: One young. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable in large colonies. Call: Barks, roars, and yelps. Diet: Octopus, squid, and fish . Lifespan: 10-15 years. Up to 20 in captivity. RELATED SPECIES There are fourteen species of sea lion, including the Steller sea lion, Australian sea lion, and Hooker's sea lion .

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Breeding grounds of the California sea lion.

DISTRIBUTION West coast of North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California, and the Sea of Cortez. Also occur as a separate subspects in the Galapagos Islands. CONSERVATION Formerly hunted, though populations are now protected and stable. Breeding colonies of California sea lion total about 50,000 with a further 40,000 in the Galapagos Islands.

THE SEA LION UNDERWATER The sea lion can dive to a depth of 1,000 feet, which is about the height of the Eiffel Tower.

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Among the most graceful of marine mammals, the sea lion twists and turns through the water with effortless grace, moving with great speed in a manner that resembles underwater flight.

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Underwater, the front flippers are used to propel it through the water. It uses its back flippers like a rudder. On land, the flippers are used like legs, and a sea lion can outpace a man . ©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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The California sea lion lives in colonies on isolated beaches and rocky coastlines. Active by day and night, it feeds in the ocean and hauls out at intervals to rest on shore. The sea lion is active by nature and more agile both on land and in water than its relative the seal.

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HABITS

The sea lion is sociable and lives in colonies which may number in the thousands, especially during the mating season. The sea lion divides its time between resting on shore and hunting for food in the ocean. Despite its heavy, awkwardlooking body, the sea lion can move quickly on land with the use of its flippers. When entering the water,

BREEDING

Sea lions breed from May to August. The breeding grounds, called rookeries, are situated on beaches and offshore islets. Soon after the young are born, mature bulls compete to establish territories. They use threatening gestures and fight only as a last resort. A harem of females and young is established by each mature male. During mating, the bull has no time to feed and must survive on his reserve of blubber. About 3 weeks after her pup is born, the sea lion cow is ready to mate again. But she continues to suckle her young for about 6 months.

the sea lion dives in head first, often in a group of twenty to thirty animals. It seems to be able to gauge the depth of the water and dives accordingly. Underwater, the sea lion's ears and nostrils close, and it is capable of remaining in the water many minutes before surfacing to breathe.

Right: Birth of a sea lion. Top

picture shows head emerging. Center, almost born. Bottom, the pup has arrived.

Below: A crowded coastal rookery in Monterey, California.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING

DID YOU KNOW? • Sea lions are known as eared seals because, unlike true seals w ho only have ear openings, sea lions have small external ears. • A California sea lion can swim at a speed of up to 25 miles per hour. This is faster than any other species of sea

lion, seal, or walrus. • The male sea lion's territory extends into the water, as well as on land. When defending his underwater territory, he will bark, sending up chains of air bubbles as a wa rning to rival males.

~ SEA LION &: MAN In the early nineteenth century, large numbers of sea lions were killed on the coasts of California. The blubber of c the dead animals was used as ~ a source of oil, and the skins were used for making glue. ~ Today California sea lions ~ are regarded for their intelli~ gence and are well known for

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the playful behavior they display in captivity. Sea lions are popular attractions in zoos, circuses, and marine parks.

Right: A rare view of sea lions in

their ocean habitat, where they can stay submerged for many minutes.

The California sea lion has a remarkably big appetite. An average size animal must consume about 14 percent of its body weight in food every day. The sea lion hunts by chasing its prey through the water or diving down to the ocean bottom and searching

among the rocks with its muzzle. It feeds mainly on octopus, squid, and fish. Sea lions have excellent underwater vision and hunt their prey mostly by sight. The well-developed muscles on its muzzle may also help it to locate prey by picking up vibrations in the water.

"" CARD 45

ELEPHANT SEAL "~____~_______________________G_R_O_U_P_l_:_M_A_M _M __ A_LS__~ ~ ORDER

~ Pinnipedia

GENUS &: SPECIES Mirounga leonina & M. angustirotris

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Southern males, 16 ft.; females, 10ft. Northern males, 14 ft.; females, 10ft. Weight: Southern males 5,300 lb.; females, 1,500 lb. Northern males, 5,000 lb.; females, 2,000 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-5 years. Breeding season: Southern species, September to October. Northern species, December to January. Gestation: 11 months. Litter size: 1 pup.

Ranges of the northern and southern elephant seals. DISTRIBUTION The southern elephant seal lives and breeds in the Antarctic. The northern elephant seal is found along the west coast of North America and breeds off the California coast.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Social during breeding . Diet: Fish and squid Call: Roar, growl, or purr.

CONSERVATION The northern elephant seal was virtually wiped out by seal hunters at the end of the nineteenth century. Numbers have now recovered, and neither species is currently in danger.

Lifespan: Up to 14 years. RELATED SPECIES The northern and southern elephant seals are the only species.

FEATURES OF THE ELEPHANT SEAL The most noticeable feature of the adult male elephant seal is its trunklike snout. Primarily an organ of sexual display. it can be inflated by blood pressure and muscular action to a maximum length of 12 in. and gives a deep resonance to the male 's bellowing roar.

Male

The mole elephant seal's giant snout resembles on elephant's trunk, which gives the seal its nome. The bull inflates his snout during mating season to attract females.

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The female ranges between a third and one-half the size of a full-grown male. Her smaller size puts her at great risk of injury during the breeding season.

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~ BREEDING Male elephant seals arrive at breeding beaches a few weeks before the females to establish territories. The competition among the males is fierce: they engage in bloody fights to claim territories where females are likely to congregate. Shortly after the females arrive at the breeding colony, they give birth to single pups conceived in the previous mating season. The females are not ready to mate again until their pups are weaned four weeks later. Many larger males attempt to mate with the females too soon after they give birth; many females are injured, and 10 percent of the pups are killed.

There are two species of elephant seal living in the southern and northern hemispheres respectively. The southern elephant seal, M. leonina, is found in Antarctic waters, while the northern species, M. angustirotris, lives on islands off California and Mexico.

Above: Having fought for the right to mate, the dominant males have their pick of females.

Right: Pups triple their birth weight in four weeks. Their woolly fur is then shed to reveal a sleek, gray coat.

~ FOOD & HUNTING Elephant seals feed primarily on fish and squid. Until recently, very little was known about their hunting behavior; recent studies have shown that they make extraordinarily deep dives of over 3,000 feet. In this deep water they catch

bottom-dwelling prey. Although elephant seals have long canine teeth, only the inch-long tips protrude through the gums. This and their dull molars make it difficult for them to feed on anything but soft-bodied prey.

~ HABITS With the exception of breeding season, elephant seals come ashore only to shed their skin, a process known as molting. In late summer, hundreds of seals gather on beaches and wallow in muddy pools of water. They lie close together while they gradually shed patches of hair and skin. Eventually, the old skin is replaced by a new coat of sleek fur, and the seals return to the water.

~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS Originally land animals, elephant seals have adapted to life in the sea by developing a thick layer of insulating fat, called blubber, that keeps them warm . The blubber also serves as a reserve store of food .

Elephant seals move gracefully in the water. They propel themselves with their fins and use their forelimbs to change direction . On land, they use their forelimbs to move across the beach .

DID YOU KNOW?

Above: Skin and hair are shed in large patches. Left: A group of male elephant seals gather in a mud wallow for their late-summer molt.

• Male elephant seals are so large that it has been difficult to find out how much they weigh . Scientists used to cut up dead seals to estimate their weight and found that the skin alone can weigh up to 250 pounds, the blubber 1,450 pounds, the heart 93 pounds, and the head 115 pounds. • Southern elephant seals are known to travel great dis-

tances from their breeding beaches. The longest recorded journey was over 3,000 miles. • Elephant seals sleep so soundly on breeding beaches that it is possible for a person to sit on one without waking it. • The big difference in size between the male and female elephant seal is thought to be the greatest relative size difference between the sexes of any mammalian species.

GRAY SQUIRREL

"I I i~ 1

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'\ . . ORDER ~ Rodentia

FAMILY Sciuridae

KEY FACTS

SIZES Body length: 9-12 in. Tail length: 7-10 in. Weight: 12-28 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 11 months. Gestation: About 44 days. Litter size: Usually 3, but up to 9. Females may have 2 litters a year, 1 in March or April and the other in June or July. LIFESTYLE Habit: Tree-dwelling, but spends much time on the ground. Diet: Mainly tree seeds. Call: Chattering and piercing scream . Lifespan: 3-4 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 28 species of squirrel, including the European red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, which is not related to the red squirrel of North America.

Range of the gray squirrel.

DISTRIBUTION Native to North America. Introduced to Great Britain, Ireland, and South Africa . CONSERVATION The gray squirrel is in no danger as a species. In North America, its numbers are regulated by shooting it for sport. In England, numbers are controlled by poisoning and trapping in forestry plantations.

FEATURES OF THE GRAY SQUIRREL Gray squirrels have long, muscular hind legs and short front legs for leaping . To help the squirrel scramble head first up and down tree trunks, the hind feet are double jointed.

On the front foot are four slender toes that each have a sharp claw, used for gripping bark while climbing.

Thick and bushy, the squirrel's tail is an important aid to balance in the treetops .

An agile and alert animal, the gray squirrel is active throughout the year. Since it does not hibernate in the winter, it can be seen year-round.

The back foot is longer than the front, with five clawed toes.

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~ BREEDING

Gray squirrels are a common sight in both rural and urban areas. They live mainly east of the Rocky Mountains, but the western gray squirrel is found along the Pacific Coast.

~ HABITAT Although the gray squirrel is found in parks and yards, woodlands are its preferred habitat. It builds its den in tree branches, inside a hollow trunk, or in an empty bird's nest. It usually lines the nest with moss, thistledown, dried grass, and feathers and builds a cover.

A gray squirrel will build several nests or dens and use them all. When a female has young, the nest is theirs alone, but winter nests and sleeping dens are often shared to generate warmth. Below: Gray squirrels are commonly found in woodlands.

Female squirrels can mate only twice a year, but males can mate at any time. Often, several males will attempt to mate with the same female. They try to attract her attention by slapping the bark of trees with their paws and chattering loudly. After mating, the male plays no part in the rearing of the young. Birth occurs six weeks after mating. The naked, blind young are fed every two to four hours for several weeks.

At seven weeks, they follow their mother out on the tree branches and before long have learned to climb. The young squirrels gradually begin to eat solid food and are weaned at 10 weeks of age. A month later, they leave the den. If there are not too many squirrels in the area, the young will build their dens nearby. Otherwise, they will be chased away to less crowded feeding areas.

Left: A litter of nearly grown youngsters huddles together for warmth while their mother leaves them to feed.

Below: Squirrels prefer to feed on nuts and acorns, which they break open using their sharp teeth.

~ NATUREWATCH The gray squirrel is one of the easiest animals to observe. It is found in parks and woods among both coniferous and deciduous trees, which provide plentiful sources of food . A squirrel's den can be found in a hollow tree or built between sturdy branches. Winter and breeding nests are usually

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~ FOOD & FEEDING The gray squirrel needs to eat every day, even in the winter. It does not hibernate and is unable to conserve enough energy to survive for long periods without food. It is most active at dawn and dusk, when it searches for whatever fruits, shoots, and seeds are in season. Small thumbs on its front paws allow it to hold the food securel 'as it feeds.

larger than the summer nests and they are built of sturdier material. If you find an abandoned baby squirrel, it is best to leave it alone, since it must be fed every two to four hours for several weeks. Gray squirrels do not make good pets and may carry rabies .

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~ COMMUNICATION The squirrel's diet varies according to season. It eats mainly tree bark and fungi in in the winter and buds and plant shoots in the spring. In September it eats nuts and acorns. A hungry gray squirrel will also raid birds' nests for eggs, steal food from bird feeders, and dig up plants. The squirrel buries extra food just below the soil's surface, which it later locates b smell.

In addition to their calls, body language and scent are the most important means of communication between squirrels.

The position of the tail indicates mood, while urine and glandular secretions help them identify one another. (/J

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DID YOU KNOW? • The squirrel's front teeth continue to grow throughout its life, so they can never be worn away by the animal's continual gnawing.

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• A male squirrel can smell a female that is ready to mate up to half a mile away.

• The gray squirrel ca~ more than 20 feet.

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