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Squirrel is the common
name for rodents of the family Sciuridae. 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". The original translation of the word "squirrel"
literally means "animal with the tail that casts a shadow."
It comes from Greek, the syllables skia meaning shadow and oura
meaning tail.
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Typical squirrels
include the European Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris, the Fox Squirrel
S. niger, the Eastern Gray Squirrel S. carolinensis, the Western
Gray Squirrel S. griseus, and the American Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus
hudsonicus. Eurasian Red Squirrel (Scirus vulgaris)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. 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. Many companies sell
bird feeders which are supposedly "squirrel-proof";
most of them in fact are not.
Images 1 Through 5 Come From The US Fish & Wildlife Service
Image Number 6 Come From The N.R.C.S.
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