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Squirrels - Garden Pests or Free Entertainment?

© Diana Pederson

People often complain about squirrels who dig up their plants, eat their flower bulbs, or just generally make a nuisance of themselves. I've experienced all these problems too. One way I've solved the problem is to put out special food just for these wonderful and entertaining creatures. Our neighborhood squirrels let me know when sunflower seeds and corn are running low. They either sit on the window ledge and stare in our dining room until someone answers their plea for food or they actually crawl up our backdoor screen to "talk" to us about the problem.

This past week I watched as one squirrel stood on its back legs and used its front legs to try to catch a full ear of corn that I tossed to it. I've observed that some are getting pretty picky about their food. If my neighbor is handing out peanuts, then the corn gets ignored until the peanuts are carefully buried. Other wintery days, I sit and watch one of these furry critters industriously bury a whole ear of corn in the local snowpile. Apparently they don't think snow melts.

Fox squirrels or gray squirrels are most common in my part of North America. Be sure to check here to see what species live in your area. The life history given below may be modified slightly depending on the squirrel species you have.

SQUIRREL FACTS

Squirrels belong to the animal order Rodentia. Like all rodents, they have two upper and two lower incisors. These are flat, open rooted front teeth, used for gnawing. These front teeth grow continuously and are worn down by the squirrels' constant gnawing. The Sciuridae family has several identifying characteristics. They have four toes on their front feet and five on their back feet. The Sciuridae (squirrel) family name comes from the Greek word skiouros. This means shade tail - a most appropriate name for an animal with a bushy tail that keeps it warm during cold nights. Most squirrel species are active during daylight hours (diurnal), except flying squirrels which are active at night (nocturnal).

Squirrels live in a variety of habitats. Some, like the gray squirrel, prefer mature woodlots while the fox squirrel is content with smaller woodlots. Both species are nut eaters. They will eat anything available including strawberries, grapes, apples, thornapples, serviceberries, raspberries, and cherries. Corn, sunflower seeds and even insects may be included in their daily diet. Squirrels will chew on any animal bones available which provides a source of calcium and minerals.

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