Observations by vinuman0311

Scientific and Common Name(s):
The common name attributed to the animal in the pictures provided is the “Eastern Grey Squirrel” and the scientific name is Sciurus carolinensis. This animal belongs to the Rodentia order and is further classified into the Sciurus family (Cassola 2016).
Habitat and Geographic Range:
The Eastern Grey Squirrel is mostly found in large hardwood or mixed forests (usually greater than 40 hectares of land) and also in urban and suburban areas (Lawniczak 2002). The squirrels prefer more mature deciduous and mixed forests because of the abundant diversity of mast (like acorns and hickory nuts) and conversely a more mature forest is better capable of providing for a denser population of squirrels. They also inhabit city parks and floodplains and are usually within small distances of water sources (Cassola 2016). The Sciurus carolinensis are believed to have originated from North America and they generally inhabit regions in the USA stretching from Eastern United States to just West of the Mississippi River and slightly North into Canada. Introduction of this species has been discovered in more Western regions of USA and other non-native regions of Canada as well as in Italy, England, Scotland and Ireland (Lawniczak 2002). They are also quite disruptive to the native red squirrel populations in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland (Morris 1997).
Size /Weight and Lifespan:
The Eastern Grey Squirrels are considered mid-sized tree squirrels relative to their closely related ancestors, and range anywhere from 380-525mm in length, and a good portion of their size is contributed by the length of their tails which generally range from 150-250mm in length. They can weigh anywhere from 338-750g but the average mass is 540.33g. In general the average lifespan trends show that in the wild these squirrels have a life expectancy of approximately 12.5 years and in captivity they can live to be more than 20 years old (Lawniczak 2002).
Diet:
The Sciurus carolinensis is an omnivorous species and they feast on a vast variety of nuts and plants and are also known to consume other small mammals. In terms of vegetation they feed on nuts, seeds, flowers, buds and certain crop and this consists of the majority of their diet. There have been reports of cannibalistic behavior and they are often spotted ingesting the carcasses of other animals, bird eggs and even frogs (Lawniczak 2002). Since their diet is so heavily un-restricted, they generally do not have many issues foraging for food. These squirrels are considered Scatterhoarders, which means that they bury their nuts and acorns in the Fall for later consumption in the Winter and Spring (this is the very stereotypical quality that we often see portrayed in cartoons and the likes) (Cassola 2016).
Reproduction and Communication:
The female squirrels are capable of bearing children as young as 5.5 months of age and in general they are fertile for more than 8 years of their lives. The female vagina is closed in anestrous and pubescent females but during estrous phases (which last around 8 hours) their vagina will allow penetration and their vulva turn pink. The breeding seasons for these squirrels are quite seasonal and tend to occur during two distinct periods between December and February and also May through June. Approximately five days before estrus in the female, males can identify that there is a female available for reproduction and will actively seek her out (they can identify her from distances up to 500m). Copulation lasts for less than 30 seconds and the male mounts the female dorsally, and it is also possible and even likely that the female will have multiple mating partners (Koprowski 1994). On average they produce about 3 offspring and are capable of giving birth of up to 8 babies, and the average time for gestation (being carried in the womb) is 44 days followed by a 3 week interval of weaning. Sciurus carolinensis are known to communicate with one another through a variety of vocalizations and also physical gestures like tail flicking and are also known to warn fellow species of the presence of potential predators. They also have a very keen sense of smell which comes in handy when trying to determine the stress levels of neighboring animals (determine whether they are a threat or not) and they can also smell whether any nearby females are ready for reproduction (Lawniczak 2002).
Predation:
Eastern Grey Squirrels are subject to predation by a wide host of predators including weasels, red foxes, bobcats, lynxes, coyotes, and birds of prey like the eagles and the red-tailed hawk. They are however extremely agile creatures and trees provide excellent cover from most predators (Lawniczak 2002).
Conservation Status:
Sciurus carolinensis is not an endangered species and they also occur naturally in a number of protected areas (Cassola 2016).
Interesting Facts:
The Eastern Grey Squirrels are actually quite cunning and intelligent creatures; they are often wary of on looking animals trying to steal their stashed food and so they will create bogus food burial spots (these sites do not actually contain food) in the hopes of tricking potential thieves. Also there tend to be more black Eastern Grey Squirrels in Northern regions (like Canada) because apparently black furred squirrels have 18% less heat loss in colder climates and a lower baseline metabolic rate.