Did you know there are over 200 species of squirrel living all over the world?!
Each species has its own unique way of life. Some squirrels live in trees, while others live underground; some can even fly!
I am a Western Grey Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)! We can be found living high in trees along the West Coast of the United States and Mexico. I prefer to live alone. I do not hibernate during the winter so I have to store food by burying it in the ground during the rest of the year. Western grey squirrels such as myself are "scatter- hoarders", which means we store each nut or seed we find in a different location.
I am a California Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi)! We live on the West Coast of the United States and Baja California. I live in a burrow underground, surrounded by my close buddies. Some populations of ground squirrels will hibernate through the winter, dependent on the weather conditions in the area where they live. Other California Ground Squirrels may store small amounts of food in our burrows, and forage above ground throughout the year.
I am a Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)! We can be found primarily in the eastern United States, however, we have also moved into many urban areas along the west coast. Fox squirrels are "arboreal", meaning we live in trees. We do come down to the ground to forage and to store food for the winter. Like the western grey squirrel, we too are scatter-hoarders, storing each of our saved food items in separate locations. I tend to live alone, but may nest with others in the winter to stay warm!
I am a Douglas squirrel(Tamiasciurus douglasii)! I can be found in the Pacific northwest, from northern California to southwestern Canada and I am a close cousin to the North American Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). I love eating pine tree cones and reproductive structures of fungi. I am a shy, solitary squirrel who doesn't like to socialize with others. I am a larder hoarder which means I hide all my nuts for the winter in one location and I fiercely defend my midden and territory! I am important for old-growth forest health because I spread around fungal spores during foraging which provides essential nutrients to the soil and tree roots.
I am the Humboldt's flying squirrel(Glaucomys oregonensis)! I'm the third-known species of flying squirrel in North America, a fact that eluded scientists for over two centuries. Originally, researchers classified me within the Northern Flying Squirrel species (Glaucomys Sabrinus). However, recent genetic and historical studies revealed we are a distinct and previously unknown species of flying squirrels. Stretching from Southern British Columbia to Southern California, you'll find me dwelling in coniferous and mixed coniferous forests. My diet is diverse, encompassing plant material, sap, bird eggs, insects, and fungi. Instead of flying, I glide with the help of a patagium, which is a parachute-like membrane that extends from my wrist to my ankle, and I use my puffy tail to maneuver and brake. Not only do my foraging habits foster tree growth through increasing mycorrhizae and dispersing fungal species, but I also possess many unique characteristics. I glow pink under ultraviolet light, and I communicate through ultrasonic vocalization, which many hypothesize is a strategy to avoid detection from potential predators.
I am an Arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii)! You can find me across the vast landscapes of Alaska, Siberia, and parts of Canada. I love to eat vegetation, eggs, invertebrates, and small vertebrates, including my sibling’s young. Males, like me, are aggressive and defend our territories and mating partners from other males, but this behavior comes at a cost, as it can lead to heightened stress levels, resulting in a high male mortality rate. One unique feature of ours is the ability to lower our body temperatures to freezing levels. Scientists are exploring inducing body cooling, inspired by our hibernation process, as a part of effective treatments for stroke or other brain injuries. This cooling and rewarming process may not only slow brain damage but also promote regeneration of synapses and neurons, offering hope for mental health and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Even NASA is attempting to induce a hibernation-like state in astronauts to aid space travel.
Citations: Sheriff, M. J., Fridinger, R. W., Tøien, Ø., Barnes, B. M., & Buck, C. L. (2013). Metabolic rate and prehibernation fattening in free-living Arctic ground squirrels. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 86(5), 515-527. https://doi.org/10.1086/673092 Richter, M. M., Williams, C. T., Lee, T. N., Tøien, Ø., Florant, G. L., Barnes, B. M., & others. (2015). Thermogenic capacity at subzero temperatures: How low can a hibernator go? Physiological Biochemical Zoology, 88(1), 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1086/679591