Amorous Squirrels Begin The New Year

Well, guess my first NATURE post this year will be about the amorous squirrels in our yard! Lately, I've found gifts of pine cones in the feeder tray. In the summer, the squirrels will leave tiny pieces of tomatoes from the garden on top of bird feeders. Now they have decided to bring their gifts of pine cones to the feeder on the porch.

 Usually in the morning, I'll grab the camera that sits by the door and see what interesting nature photos can be captured. The gray squirrels were quite active this morning, so I clicked away as they darted across the yard and climbed the tulip magnolia and jumped to a larger winged elm tree. After viewing the pictures on the computer, I thought this new year day nature post will include a quick study in the mating habits of the Eastern Gray Squirrel!! :)

The Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis is native to the eastern and Midwestern United States. It has predominantly gray fur with some brown. There is a white underside.

The Sciuridae  family are scatter-hoarders. They hoard food in many small caches for use later. There can be as many as several thousand caches each season. It is amazing how they are able to remember where they are all hidden (that would make an interesting study). The Eastern Gray has the ability to descend trees head first. 

Now to the breeding part! Eastern gray squirrels can breed two times a year, from December-February and May to June. So come late February or March their may be a litter hiding in a drey (nest in fork of trees) or in the den of a hollowed out tree. The litter usually consists of one to four. Gestation is about 44 days. After 12 weeks they will begin to explore outside their nests. 

Well, that's about it for this first nature post of the year...guess baby pictures will coming :)

Juliet