Squirrel is the common name for rodents of the family Sciuridae (from Greek skia "shadow" and oura "tail" i.e. "tail that casts a shadow"). In everyday speech in the English-speaking world it usually refers to members of the genera Sciurus and Tamiasciurus. These typical members of the family are tree squirrels with large bushy tails, and are native to Europe, Asia and the Americas. Similar genera are found in Africa.

However, the Sciuridae also include flying squirrels, and ground squirrels such as the chipmunks, prairie dogs, and woodchucks. The unrelated family Anomaluridae also have "squirrel" in their common name, though they are usually referred to as "scaly-tailed flying squirrels".
A male is a buck and a female is a doe. Babies are kits (male) or kittens (female), and collectively pups. Squirrels also nest; these nests are called dreys, which may also refer to a group of squirrels.

Diet and feeding behavior

One well-known trait of some species of squirrel is the gathering and storing of nuts for the winter. These squirrels are scatter-hoarders, i.e. they will gather nuts and store them in any accessible hiding place, usually by burying them. Recent research shows that they have excellent memories for the locations of these caches.

Despite the popular impression, squirrels are actually omnivores; as well as eating a wide variety of plant food, including nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi (for example, mushrooms), and green vegetation, they also eat insects, eggs, and even small birds, smaller mammals, and frogs. There has even been a report of squirrels eating dogs.

Squirrels are generally clever and persistent animals; in residential neighborhoods they are notorious for eating out of bird feeders, digging in potted plants either to bury or recover food, and for setting up house in sheltered areas including attics. While many companies sell bird feeders which are supposedly "squirrel-proof", most of them in fact are not.

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A squirrel eating a nut


Squirrels are sometimes also pests because they chew on various edible and inedible objects; the habit helps keep the squirrel's teeth sharp and also wears the teeth down (rodents' teeth grow continuously).

Homeowners in areas with a heavy squirrel population must keep attics and basements carefully sealed to prevent property damage caused by nesting squirrels. Fake owls and scarecrows are generally ignored by the animals, and the best way to prevent chewing on an object is to coat it with something to make it undesirable: for instance a soft cloth or chile pepper paste or powder. Squirrel trapping is also practiced to remove them from residential areas.

Squirrels can be trained to be hand-fed. Because they are able to cache surplus food, they will take as much food as you put out. If a person starts to feed one, that squirrel will come back day after day to get its food. Squirrels living in parks and campuses in cities have learned long ago that humans are typically a ready source of food. Feeding is not recommended, however, because squirrels may carry plague or other animal-borne diseases. Even if they do not carry disease, they often have a hard time telling fingertips from food, and bites are painful.

Popular-culture references

Despite periodic complaints about the animal as a pest, general public opinion towards the animal is favorable, thanks to its attractive appearance and graceful movement, and its habit of gathering and storing nuts. Squirrels are popular characters in cartoons and children's books, such as the works of Beatrix Potter. A less typical fictional squirrel is Secret Squirrel. A cartoon squirrel named Tammy was a memorable one-shot character on the Disney Afternoon's Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers. Marvel Comics has a superheroine called Squirrel Girl. Some others are used in internet cartoons for added humor, such as Foamy the Squirrel.
Albino squirrels are thought by some to be a source of good luck. Olney, Illinois, is home of the world's largest known albino-squirrel colony. The Albino Squirrel Preservation Society was founded in 2001 at the University of Texas at Austin to celebrate the proliferation of white and albino squirrels on campus. There are eight college chapters of the ASPS across the United States, Canada, and England.

The word squirrelled, meaning to have hidden items away, is arguably the longest one-syllable word in the English language, although only in its American English pronunciation; in all British English accents it has two syllables.

Squirrels are often refered to as "tree rats" or "harveys" by people who dislike them and consider them pests. The word "Squirrel" is sometimes used to describe someone who is a 'goof' or 'clown' (i.e., he is a squirrel or is squirrelly).

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the spoiled brat Veruca Salt was thrown down the garbage chute by a mob of walnut-shelling squirrels. Dozens of live squirrels were trained to handle nuts and attack for the scene.

Will these cute little animals cause problems with my bonsai trees, I didn't know that they usually caused trouble when it comes to plants and trees. Unless they have nuts on them obviously.

:s Will squirrels eat my Bonsai ???

Best bet is to have your pet inside, or cover it with protection wiring to prevent abuse from these beasts.

Will these cute little animals cause problems with my bonsai trees, I didn't know that they usually caused trouble when it comes to plants and trees. Unless they have nuts on them obviously.
Squirels can be a bit of a nuisance when it comes to plants, they are a pain, they will chew at anything, using protective wire would just destory the look of a fantastic plant.

we dont have squrells down here, i dont think anyway, our pests are birds mostly and bugs

My father was a hunter, shot many a squirrel out in the woods. And my mom, she would cook them up with some noodles. Man with some mashed potatoes. Out in the country where my dad would go hunting, the fox squirrels would be as big as a small cat.....

Very true about squirrels figuring out just about any squirrel proof bird feeder =)

Hello,

The bird feeders' war with the squirrels has raged for many years. Bird feeders all over the world know what a formidable opponent squirrels can be. Many mechanical devices have been marketed to deter squirrels. None are 100% effective, most are obtrusive and some are down right dangerous.
Squirrels cause millions of dollars of damage every year. Rodents are born to gnaw. Their incisors never stop growing, so they must chew constantly to keep them worn down. Squirrels chew through phone and electrical lines, ruin gardens, kill trees, damage feeders beyond recognition, and often eat large quantities of seed put out for the birds. The stripping of wire insulation by squirrels that find their way inside homes has been known to start house fires.

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Thanks

Hi Everyone ; My father's mother showed me how she feed her squirrels in her back yard everyday out of her hand . They would come to the back door and make sounds .
My grandmother had many trees and shrubs and plants and knew every name for each one . Fruit trees and a shrub for humming birds , it was so much fun watching all the animals in her back yard .
She had a dark red cardinal come to her front yard in a pine tree when ever she played her piano it sang it's heart out while she played .
She had many bird feeders also .

Rosebud5548

They will certainly attempt it but hopefully that will be enough to deter them. I find things are slowing down a little now, as the cubs are growing and moving out.

The only thing I have found to keep them out of my bonsai is a pellet gun.