Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the preferred habitat for fox squirrels?
What is the preferred habitat for fox squirrels?
What is the minimum range for a fox squirrel?
What is the minimum range for a fox squirrel?
What is the average range for a gray squirrel?
What is the average range for a gray squirrel?
What is the best management technique for gray squirrels?
What is the best management technique for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the minimum percentage of mature hardwood trees required to maintain good habitat for gray squirrels?
What is the minimum percentage of mature hardwood trees required to maintain good habitat for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the best source of water for squirrels during periods when surface water is not available?
What is the best source of water for squirrels during periods when surface water is not available?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the primary types of food sources for gray squirrels during the months of February to April?
What are the primary types of food sources for gray squirrels during the months of February to April?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary purpose of leaf nests for squirrels?
What is the primary purpose of leaf nests for squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the approximate age at which hardwood trees are considered suitable for providing den cavities?
What is the approximate age at which hardwood trees are considered suitable for providing den cavities?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary food source for gray squirrels?
What is the primary food source for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
At what age do gray squirrels typically reach maturity?
At what age do gray squirrels typically reach maturity?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the average weight range for an adult gray squirrel?
What is the average weight range for an adult gray squirrel?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the gestation period for gray squirrels?
What is the gestation period for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a typical seasonal food for gray squirrels?
Which of the following is NOT a typical seasonal food for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
When do gray squirrels typically start venturing to the ground?
When do gray squirrels typically start venturing to the ground?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a favorable population density for gray squirrels?
What is a favorable population density for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main contributor to the gray tone of gray squirrels' fur?
What is the main contributor to the gray tone of gray squirrels' fur?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the approximate weight range for an adult fox squirrel?
What is the approximate weight range for an adult fox squirrel?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary food source for squirrels, making up approximately 60% of their diet by weight?
What is the primary food source for squirrels, making up approximately 60% of their diet by weight?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary reason for mass migrations of squirrels?
What is the primary reason for mass migrations of squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following characteristics is NOT a distinguishing feature of gray squirrels?
Which of the following characteristics is NOT a distinguishing feature of gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
At what age do squirrels begin to venture to the ground?
At what age do squirrels begin to venture to the ground?
Signup and view all the answers
What is considered a favorable population density for gray squirrels?
What is considered a favorable population density for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
How old are squirrels when they are weaned by their mothers?
How old are squirrels when they are weaned by their mothers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the most efficient management technique for gray squirrels from a conservation standpoint?
What is the most efficient management technique for gray squirrels from a conservation standpoint?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of these is NOT a common food source for gray squirrels during February - April?
Which of these is NOT a common food source for gray squirrels during February - April?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a preferred den tree for gray squirrels?
Which of the following is NOT a preferred den tree for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
During which of these months would squirrels be most likely to rely on insects as a primary food source?
During which of these months would squirrels be most likely to rely on insects as a primary food source?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following practices is LEAST beneficial for managing gray squirrel habitat?
Which of the following practices is LEAST beneficial for managing gray squirrel habitat?
Signup and view all the answers
Gray squirrels can survive for extended periods without access to water. What does this suggest?
Gray squirrels can survive for extended periods without access to water. What does this suggest?
Signup and view all the answers
According to the content, which of the following is an effective way to enhance gray squirrel habitat in areas that are low on hollow trees?
According to the content, which of the following is an effective way to enhance gray squirrel habitat in areas that are low on hollow trees?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the most significant factor in determining the density of gray squirrel populations in a particular area?
What is the most significant factor in determining the density of gray squirrel populations in a particular area?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a common food source for gray squirrels during November to January?
Which of the following is NOT a common food source for gray squirrels during November to January?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a key factor in distinguishing the preferred habitat of Fox squirrels from Gray squirrels?
Which of the following is a key factor in distinguishing the preferred habitat of Fox squirrels from Gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What factor primarily influences the age at which hardwood trees begin to produce acorns?
What factor primarily influences the age at which hardwood trees begin to produce acorns?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the weight range of adult fox squirrels?
Which of the following best describes the weight range of adult fox squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary breeding strategy of gray squirrels?
What is the primary breeding strategy of gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of a given yearly squirrel population is typically made up of young squirrels?
What percentage of a given yearly squirrel population is typically made up of young squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant external parasite that affects squirrels' ability to breed?
What is a significant external parasite that affects squirrels' ability to breed?
Signup and view all the answers
Which food item is most preferred by squirrels over others during spring, summer, and fall?
Which food item is most preferred by squirrels over others during spring, summer, and fall?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the typical daily food requirement for a squirrel?
What is the typical daily food requirement for a squirrel?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of forest is most beneficial for fox squirrel populations?
What type of forest is most beneficial for fox squirrel populations?
Signup and view all the answers
Which management practice is suggested for restoring gray squirrel habitat when vines are missing?
Which management practice is suggested for restoring gray squirrel habitat when vines are missing?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of mature hardwood trees is needed to maintain good habitat for gray squirrels?
What percentage of mature hardwood trees is needed to maintain good habitat for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
Which food source is typically NOT available for squirrels from May to July?
Which food source is typically NOT available for squirrels from May to July?
Signup and view all the answers
What do gray squirrels mainly prefer as den trees?
What do gray squirrels mainly prefer as den trees?
Signup and view all the answers
What kind of areas do gray squirrels typically avoid for habitation?
What kind of areas do gray squirrels typically avoid for habitation?
Signup and view all the answers
How does surface water availability affect squirrel populations?
How does surface water availability affect squirrel populations?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a benefit of leaf nests for gray squirrels?
Which of the following is a benefit of leaf nests for gray squirrels?
Signup and view all the answers
During which season would squirrels rely significantly on plant buds and flowers for food?
During which season would squirrels rely significantly on plant buds and flowers for food?
Signup and view all the answers
What types of trees should be preserved during site preparation in squirrel habitats?
What types of trees should be preserved during site preparation in squirrel habitats?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Fox and Gray Squirrel Biology
- Size and Weight: Fox squirrels are larger, weighing 1.3 to 2.8 pounds. Gray squirrels weigh 0.7 to 1.3 pounds.
Physical Characteristics
- Fox Squirrel: Rusty/reddish underparts, brownish/grayish upperparts. Tail is less than half total length, cinnamon mixed with black. Feet are cinnamon colored.
- Gray Squirrel: Dark yellowish-rusty upperparts, especially on head and back legs. Arms, neck, and rump sides have gray-tipped/white-tipped hairs. Tail hairs are dull yellow at the base, blackish, and white-tipped. Winter ears have a conspicuous white spot at the base.
Reproduction and Development
- Breeding: Throughout the year, peaking in July-September and December-February. Multiple males may try to mate with one female.
- Gestation: 42-45 days. Litters of 2-4.
- Early Life: Naked, blind, and helpless at birth. Eyes open at 5 weeks. Climb at 7-8 weeks, venture to ground at 10 weeks, and are weaned by 12 weeks. Maturity at 10-11 months.
Feeding and Diet
- Feeding Times: Primarily early morning and late afternoon.
- Primary Food: Acorns (60% by weight), utilized year-round. Other foods include nuts (pecans preferred), seeds, fruit, buds, flowers, insects, and fungi.
-
Seasonal Food:
- August-October: Acorns, beech, black cherry, blackgum, chinquapin, dogwood, fungi, hawthorn, hickory, hornbeam, insects, pecan, pine seeds, sugar maple seeds, walnut
- November-January: Acorns, beech, blackgum, hickory, osage-orange (bois d'arc), sedges, walnut
- February-April: Acorns, sedges, beech, eggs, elm, fungi, grasses, hickory, insects, magnolia, maple buds, maple flowers, oak, young birds
- May-July: Berries, buds, flowers, corn, fungi, insects
- Food Competition: Loss of acorns to insects and other animals. Mass migrations occur when food is scarce. Acorns are utilized year-round, with many lost to other animals. Acorns are the primary food source (60% by weight).
- Acorns and Maturity: Most hardwood trees need to be at least 25 years old for acorn production. Pecans are preferred during bloom and nut stages.
- Calcium Source: Calcium is obtained from antlers, bones, seeds, and fruit.
Population Dynamics
- Population Density: 1 squirrel per acre considered good; up to 10 squirrels per acre under ideal conditions.
- Young Squirrels: About 60% of annual populations.
- Parasites: Mites, chiggers, fleas can be detrimental; reducing breeding ability in some cases.
Habitat Needs
- Daily Food Requirement: 0.2 pounds
- Habitat Preference (Fox Squirrel): Mature oak-hickory woodlands, mixed trees, in small tracts (5-20 acres), connected by strips. Pine, elm, beech, pecan, maple, etc. also crucial. Primarily river valleys in western ranges. Open upland forest supports highest populations
- Habitat Preference (Gray Squirrel): Dense hammocks along streams, live oak, willow oak, water oak, white oak, cypress, blackgum, and magnolia. High-quality bottomland tracts with oaks and pecans. White oak/water oak mixed with magnolia, sweetgum and holly. Swamps and uplands are less productive.
- Hardwood Tree Ages: Hardwood trees need to be at least 40 years old to provide den cavities. 5-10% mature hardwoods are needed.
- Gray Squirrel Den Trees: Gray squirrel den trees need vines and heavy cover.
Denning and Cover
- Shelter Preferences: Hollow trees, leaf nests (especially spring/summer). Tree cavities are more successful than leaf nests. Leaf nests also serve as refuge, resting, and feeding stations. Hollow trees are preferred denning sites.
Water
- Water Requirements: Not daily, but essential. Squirrels can go weeks without water. Obtain water from succulent foods when surface water isn't available. Ponds, creeks, or tree hollows with water can be used. Water is not required daily and can be obtained from succulent foods.
Space Requirements
- Fox Squirrel Range: Up to 40 acres annually, average 10 acres, minimum 2 acres.
- Gray Squirrel Range: Up to 20 acres annually, average 8 acres, minimum 2 acres.
Management Practices
- Land Management: Leave areas undisturbed. Planting vines (grape, rattan) to enhance gray squirrel habitat. Nest boxes for den trees. Prescribed burning to increase heart rot for more cavities (not if timber value is a priority).
- Grazing: Careful grazing to minimize competition; consider removing livestock from woods earlier in spring, or fencing off areas.
- Clearing and Vegetation: Leave streamside zones, don't underbrush, leave trees in molls/strip areas. Planting corn, peanuts, and grain near woods. Plant vines in gray squirrel habitat. For pine-hardwood mixes, maintain at least 10-15% preferred hardwoods. Leave undisturbed areas around drains and slopes.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the fascinating biology of fox and gray squirrels. This quiz covers their size, physical characteristics, reproduction, and early development stages. Test your knowledge about these common species and their unique traits!
