TN10073 RED SQUIRREL TAMIASCIURUS HUDSONICUS
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: IT IS THE SMALLEST TREE SQURIRREL IN ITS RANGE (APPROX. 1/2 SIZE OF GRAY SQUIRREL, 1/3 SIZE OF THE FOX SQUIRREL). IT HAS A FLATTENED BUSHY TAIL AND EYES RINGED WITH WHITE. THERE ARE MARKED SEASONAL PELAGE DIFFERENCES. IN WINTER,ITS FUR IS THICKER, LONGER AND SOFTER THAN IN SUMMER. IN WINTER, A BROAD RUSTY BAND RUNS DORSALLY FROM BETWEEN THE EARS TO NEARLY THE TIP OF THE TAIL. AT THIS TIME, ITS SIDES ARE OLIVE GRAY SPRINKLED WITH BLACK HAIRS, IT SHOWS PROMINENT REDDISH OR BLACK EAR TUFTS (CHARACTERISTIC), AND ITS UNDERPARTS ARE GRAYISH WHITE. IN SUMMER, IT IS MORE OLIVE, LACKS THE DORSAL RED BAND, A PROMINENT BLACK LINE SEPARATES THE WHITE BELLY FROM THE OLIVE BACK, AND THE EAR TUFTS ARE ABSENT. T. H. ABIETICOLA IS DARKER THAN T. H. LOQUAX AND SHOWS A DEEPER SHADED RED DORSAL BAND, AND ITS UNDERPARTS ARE MORE GREYISH IN WINTER. THE RED SQUIRREL'S TOTAL LENGTH IS 11-14 IN. ITS HEAD AND BODY TOTAL 7-8 IN., AND THE TAIL IS 4-6 IN. ITS WEIGHT RANGES FROM 5 TO 11 OZ.(AVERAGE 254 G). 3 VIRGINIA ADULTS AVERAGED A TOTAL LENGTH OF 307 MM, TAIL VERTEBRAE OF 122 MM, AND A HIND FOOT OF 47 MM. 28 ADULTS FROM N.Y. AVERAGED A TOTAL LENGTH OF 310 MM, A TAIL LENGTH OF 120.4 MM, AND A HIND FOOT OF 46 MM. *208,152,46,141,156*. |REPRODUCTION: THE PEAK BREEDING PERIODS ARE FEB. TO MARCH, AND JUNE-JULY. MALES PURSUE FEMALES THROUGH TREES AND OVER THE GROUND *208,152,84,46*. WHEN A FEMALE ENTERS ESTRUS, SHE PERMITS MALES TO ENTER HER TERRITORY AND MATES WITH 1 OR MORE OF THEM. THE FEMALE IS RECEPTIVE FOR ONLY 1 DAY *PA6762*. GESTATION MAY LAST FROM 35-38 DAYS *PA6762,5881*.MANY AUTHORS CALL THE GESTATION PERIOD 38 DAYS *208,152,84,46*. LITTER SIZE VARIES FROM 1-8 WITH AN AVG. OF 5-6 *PA6762,5881,208* (AVERAGE OF 3-7 *152,84,46*). A FEMALE MAY BEAR 1 OR 2 LITTERS PER YEAR *208,152,84,46*. ONE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THE SQUIRREL PROBABLY HAS ONLY 1 REPRODUCTIVE PERIOD/YEAR *PA6762*. THE YOUNG ARE BLIND,PINK, RELATIVELY IMMATURE, AND JUST OVER 4 INCHES IN LENGTH. WHEN BORN.THEY ARE BORN APRIL-MAY AND AUGUST- SEPTEMBER *208,152,84,46*. |BEHAVIOR: YOUNG GROW FASTER THAN GROUND SQUIRRELS. THEY HAVE REDDISH-TINGED FUR BY DAY 13, AND HAVE THE CHARACTERISTIC MARKINGS OF AN ADULT BY 3.5 WEEKS. THEIR EYES OPEN ABOUT DAY 27. THEY ARE WEANED IN APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS. CHASING AND MOCK FIGHTING ARE COMMON BY DAY 38. THE FOOD-STORING HABIT IS MANIFESTED BY ABOUT 6-7 WEEKS. THE YOUNG FIRST VENTURE FROM THE NEST BEFORE THEY ARE FULLY ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM SELVES AND ARE FOUND WEAK AND HELPLESS. HOWEVER SOME FAMILIES (ESPECIALLY LATE-BORN LITTERS) REMAIN TOGETHER THE FIRST WINTER SHARING SHELTER AND FOOD CACHES *208,46,141,156,357*. MALES AND FEMALES ARE SEXUALLY MATURE AT 10-12 MONTHS OLD *PA6762*. THE HOME RANGE MAY BE 200-250 YARDS IN DIAMETER. THE AVERAGE SIZE IS 1.1 HA *208,46,141,156,357,84*. POPULATION DENSITIES HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS 1 PER 2-3 ACRES, 2 PER 3 ACRES, AND AS HIGH AS 10 PER ACRE IN PRIME HABITAT *84,208,46,141,156,357*. THIS SQUIRREL IS DIURNAL AND SOMEWHAT CREPUSCULAR *84,PA6762,208,46,141,156,357*. IT DOES NOT MIGRATE OR HIBERNATE BUT DURING SEVERE WEATHER MAY REMAIN IN ITS NESTING CAVITY, ETC. *PA6762,208*. IT MAY BECOME INACTIVE FOR SHORT PERIODS WHEN IT IS COLD IN THE WINTER, BUT THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED HIBERNATION *84,208,46,141,156,357*. IT SPENDS A GOOD DEAL OF TIME ON THE GROUND *141*. IT DOES SWIM*208*. IT IS KNOWN TO TUNNEL IN SNOW *46*. They display territoriality especially by protecting the food supply. This is a noisy species having a ratchet-like call, and very verbal communica- tion. There are 3 kinds of nests: tree, ground, and outside leaf nest. The former is favored. They may have 2-4 nests or burrows within their home territory. They may become inactive for short periods when it is cold in the winter, although this is not hibernation *208,46,141,156,357,84*. This species spends a good deal of time on the ground *141*. It swims and will tunnel in the snow *208,41*. Origin: This species is native *208,152,141*. Population parameters: They may live up to 10 years *46*. Aquatic/terrestrial associations: They often nest and raise their young in abandon woodpecker, or flicker holes, in a hollow tree or raised stub, and may remodel an abandoned hawk or crows nest as leaf nest. They compete with flying squirrels in some forest habitats for nest holes. There is antagonism with gray squirrels, and with red squirrels who are usually the aggressor. Predators include the marten especially, mink, weasel, lynx, bobcat, coyote, fox, larger hawks and owls, and domestic cats *208,141,357,84*. Physical description: This is the smallest tree squirrel in the range. They are approximately 1/2 the size of gray squirrel, and 1/3 the size of of fox squirrel. The body is flattened with a bushy tail, and the eyes are ringed with white. There are marked seasonal pelage differences: The winter fur is thicker, longer and softer, with a broad rusty band dorsally from between the ears to nearly the tip of the tail. The sides are olive gray sprinkled with black hairs, and prominent reddish or black ear tufts (characteristic). The underparts are grayish-white. In the summer they are more olive, and lack the dorsal red band. A prominent black line separates the white belly from the olive back, and the ear tufts are absent. They are a brighter and and more rusty color than T. h. abieticolas. The total length is 11-14 inches (head and body 7-8 inches, tail 4-6 inches). The weight is from 5-11 ounces with an average of 254 grams. The average of 28 adults from New York total showed a length of 310 mm, at tail of 120.4 mm, and a hind foot of 46 mm *208,152,46, 141,156*. Reproduction: The peak breeding periods are from February to March, and June to July. The males pursue the females through the trees, and over the ground. The gestation period is 38 days, and there are 1-8 young per litter, with an average of 4-5. They are blind and pink at birth, and relatively immature, just over 4 inches in length. The young are born from April-May and from August to September. They have 1 or 2 litters per year *208,152,46,84*. Behavior: The young grow faster than ground squirrels, and have reddish-tinged fur by day 13. They have characteristic markings of the adult by 3.5 weeks. The eyes open about day 27. They are weaned in approximately 5 weeks, and chasing and mock fighting is common by the 38th day. The food-storing habit is manifested at about 6-7 weeks and they first venture from the nest when they are about 1/3 grown. Many young leave the nest before they are fully able to care for themselves and are found weak and helpless, however some families (especially later born litters) remain together for the first winter sharing shelter, and food caches. The nests are usually built near the trunk of a tree. The home range is 200-250 yards in diameter, and on average, 1.10 ha. Populations are quoted as 1 per 2-3 acres, and 2 per 3 acres up to as high as 10 per acre in prime habitat. This species is diurnal and somewhat crepuscu- lar. They display territoriality especially by protecting the food supply. This is a noisy species having a ratchet-like call, and very verbal communica- tion. There are 3 kinds of nests: tree, ground, and outside leaf nest. The former is favored. They may have 2-4 nests or burrows within their home ter- ritory. They may become inactive for short periods when it is cold in the winter, although this is not hibernation *208,46,141,156,357,84*. This species spends a good deal of time on the ground *141*. It swims and will tunnel in the snow *208,41*. Origin: This species is native *208,152,141*. Population parameters: They may live up to 10 years *46*. Aquatic/terrestrial associations: They often nest and raise their young in abandon woodpecker, or flicker holes, in a hollow tree or raised stub, and may remodel an abandoned hawk or crows nest as leaf nest. They compete with flying squirrels in some forest habitats for nest holes. There is antagonism with gray squirrels, and with red squirrels who are usually the aggressor. Predators include the marten especially, mink, weasel, lynx, bobcat, coyote, fox, larger hawks and owls, and domestic cats *208,141,357,84*.
References for Life History Codes
45, 46, 84, 131, 134, 141, 152, 156, 208, 357, 5881, PA6762, PA8234, PA8809, 8905
Comments on Life History Codes