- Fact 2 - Arboreal refers to their
movement in trees which include moving on narrow branches,
moving up and down inclines, balancing, crossing gaps and
dealing with obstructions. Swinging from one branch to another
is called brachiating
- Fact 3 - The Squirrel belongs to a
large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae which includes
chipmunks, marmots and
prairie dogs
- Fact 4 - The tail of squirrels act
like a parachute and provides balance
- Fact 5 - Squirrels take a long time
in grooming themselves - they are an extremely clean animal
- Fact 6 - There are 1650 species of
squirrel
- Fact 7 - The name of a
suirrels'nest is a drey
- Fact 8 - Squirrel stats and
facts
- Weight: 10 g (0.35 oz) to 8 kg (11
to 18 lb)
- Height: 7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in) to
53–73 cm (21–29 inches)
- Habitat:
Near nut and seed producing trees and plants
- Lifespan: 3-7 years
- Diet: the Squirrel eat fruits,
nuts, green vegetation, seeds, fungus and conifer cones. Some
also eat meat- small birds, young snakes, eggs,
insects and small rodents.
- Fact 9 - Squirrels have two litters
a year, the first between February and April and the second
litter in August or September
- Fact 10 - The squirrel has
excellent eyesight and a good sense of smell
- Fact 11 - The squirrel use
their tails as a signalling device to communicate
- Fact 12 - An average squirrel
litter produces three babies
- Fact 13 - Many people regard the
squirrel as a pest as they can cause damage to trees and
nest in houses in attics and chimneys
- Fact 14 - The teeth of squirrel
grow continuously
- Fact 15 - The collective name for a group
of squirrels is a
Scurry
- Fact 16 - Males are called Buck
- Fact 17 - Females are called Doe
- Fact 18 - The names given to babies are
Pup, Kit or kitten
- Fact 19 - The squirrel often chews
on electrical wires and hoses in order to sharpen their teeth
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