American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Physical description 3
Red squirrels have a total body length of from 280 to 350 mm, with the tail making up from 95 to 150 mm of that. Fur color is highly variable. Red squirrels in different part of their range can look quite different. Color changes between summer and winter as well. The fur on their back is usually brownish or olive-red in color. During the summer, a black stripe runs along their side, between the fur color of their back and their belly. The belly is white or cream color. The tail is often edged with white. There are white bands encircling their large, black eyes. The tail is not as thick or bushy as other North American tree squirrels. They are well adapted for climbing and running through the trees with compact, muscled bodies, strong claws, and powerful hind limbs. Red squirrels have a distinct white eye ring, which the other squirrel species lack. They are also distinguished by their extreme speed and agility, they zip around on trees and bushes, often while chattering loudly. The difference between the grey/red fur on their back and the white fur on their belly is often very distinct, another difference between these squirrels and other Sciurus species.
Associations 4
Red squirrels impact the forest ecosystem by dispersing seeds and fungi through caching and forgetting about or otherwise failing to return to food caches. The diversity and abundance of beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi in these caches helps young trees acquire nutrients and grow. They limit the regrowth of trees by eating the seeds and inner tissues of the trees, which can cause significant damage to tree survival and value. Red squirrels provide a feeding opportunity for porcupines (Erethizontidae) during the winter by peeling away the bark of lodgepole pines. Their feeding habits also cause conifers to grow multiple tops, which reduces their timber value but increases suitable nest sites for many arboreal rodents (Rodentia) and passerine birds (Passeriformes). The increased availability of nest sites sustains species richness.
Behaviour 5
Red squirrels have well-developed and extremely acute senses of smell, sight, and hearing. They are well known for their ability to communicate by calls. These calls consist of rattles, screeches, growls, buzzes and chirps and are often used in defense of territory or in response to threats from predators. Red squirrels may even be able to recognize each other by individual call. Communication is important because of their territorality. They intensively use vocal communication to advertise these territories and to threaten other squirrels. Both vocal and scent marking aid in the recognition of individuals. Red squirrels may also be able to make predator-specific calls, but evidence of this is still very inconclusive.
Uses 6
Red squirrels are the third-most commonly harvested furbearer in Canada, bringing in about $1 million annually. Each year in Minnesota, thousands of red squirrels are harvested for consumption by humans. Red squirrels are an important prey item for other economically important species like lynx (Lynx) and martens (Martes).
Conservation status 7
As of 2008, red squirrels are classified as Least Concern on the ICUN Red List and by the United States government. They are widespread and common, have suitable habitat throughout their range, and face no major threats.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Global G5 (Secure)
Yukon S5 (Secure)
Source: Environment Yukon
Sources and Credits
- (c) Gilles Gonthier, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/gillesgonthier/2050894357/
- (c) Gilles Gonthier, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/gillesgonthier/1399807092/
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25067260
- Adapted by L.G. Johanson from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31426164
- Adapted by L.G. Johanson from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31426161
- Adapted by L.G. Johanson from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31426165
- Adapted by L.G. Johanson from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31426167
More Info
Range Map
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Animal | Mammal |
|---|---|
| Color | grey, red, white |
| Mammal | Rodents (Rodentia), Squirrels etc (Sciuridae) |
