"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Monday, November 25, 2013

It's Awww Monday! November 25, 2013


One of our local Western Gray squirrels 
enjoying a sunny morning.
Western gray squirrels are forest dwellers, and can be found at elevations up to at 2,000 m or more. Time on the ground is spent foraging, but they prefer to travel distances from tree to tree. They are strictly diurnal, and feed mainly on seeds and nuts, particularly pine seeds and acorns, though they will also take berries, fungus and insects. Pine nuts and acorns are considered critical foods because they are very high in oil and moderately high in carbohydrates, which help increase the development of body fat. They feed mostly in trees and on the ground. They generally forage in the morning and late afternoon for acorns, pine nuts, new tree buds, and fruits. When on alert, they will spread their tails lavishly, creating an umbrella effect that shields them and possibly provides cover from overhead predators. They are scatter-hoarders making numerous caches of food when it is abundant, and thus contribute to the seed dispersion of their food trees. Although squirrels show relatively good scent relocation abilities, some food caches are never reclaimed, becoming seedlings in the spring. Though they do not hibernate, they do become less active during the winter. Like many prey animals, they depend on auditory alerts from other squirrels or birds to determine safety. Once an alarm call is transmitted, those present will join in, and the trees become a cacophony of chirping squirrels. Tree squirrels are prey for bobcats, hawks, eagles, mountain lions, coyotes, cat, and humans.
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Thanks to Sandee for Awww Mondays! 
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7 comments:

  1. Awww...I love to watch them. They are so hyper and so very cute. Our Little Bit loves them too. She's never hurt one of them, but she too loves to watch them.

    Have a terrific Awww Monday. ♥♥♥

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  2. I think the Western Gray squirrel is quite darling. The Eastern Gray Squirrels and Black Squirrels are native to Kansas, so I have occasion to watch them scurry around my yard.

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  3. If only he could remember where he hid his nuts...

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  4. I have no idea what kind of squirrels we have around here, but there are a lot of them. My neighbor has walnut trees! :)

    Happy Monday.

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  5. The nuts he doesn't eat and can't remember where he hid will one day grow into trees.

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  6. Squirrels are wonderful to watch, such clowns at times.

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  7. Anonymous4:44 PM

    i think this squirrel has been eating lots of nuts and seeds.

    ReplyDelete

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