Squirrels belong to the rodent family Squirrelidae, a large group of rodents with long fluffy tails. There are approximately 58 genera and 285 species of squirrels, which are found on all continents except Antarctica.
Contrary to most people’s impression, the squirrels that live in trees, have big fluffy tails and grab pine cones to chew on are actually just a small branch of the squirrel family. From snow-capped mountains over 6,000 meters above sea level to tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean, from the Western Hemisphere to the Eastern Hemisphere, squirrels are active in a wide variety of terrestrial habitats, some of which even play an important role in the ecosystems, with the exception of those near the poles or in the harshest climates of the most arid deserts with very simple or even non-existent vegetation.
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How squirrels build their nests
Squirrels first take some small pieces of wood, bark, twigs and other materials, and then staggered on the intersection of two branches, the top to get a cover to prevent leakage when it rains, the nest mouth to the left, there is a very small exit, barely in and out of the nest, about a week, the squirrel’s warmth of the nest is made.
The type of building material a squirrel uses depends on the forest it inhabits. In a pine forest, it collects light gray bearded lichen from old branches. In pine forests, it uses green moss. In oak and lime forests, it insulates its nests with leaves, fibers, feathers, hare hair, and horse hair. Even old small bird nests are suitable for animals soil your home.
In shape, the squirrel’s nest resembles a burrow. This is such a large bubble made of twigs, branches and twigs woven together and held together by moss and fibers. The interior of the nest is carefully finished by the squirrel. All sides of the nest are covered with a thick tangle of moss and trees. The entrance to the nest is on the side. During heavy frosts, house squirrel’s attach entrances with moss and fibers. A squirrel nest usually has two entrances.
Where squirrels are not disturbed by people and animals, they arrange their nests in the lower juniper bushes. But in this case, as in the trees, the squirrel’s nest in a convenient location. Sometimes squirrels will rig magpies’ and other birds’ nests for them to live in. This is when squirrels take their nest flight from their more predatory relatives, the squirrels.
Reasons why squirrels build nests
To protect themselves from bad weather and frost, squirrels build nests. Squirrels build their nests in dense branches, in nests abandoned by crows and magpies, or in tree cavities. Usually, they nest in dry, overgrown areas 4-6 meters above the ground. In the fall, squirrels begin to store food, and a single squirrel will often store several kilograms of food in several places. In addition, squirrels dry their food in the sun on trees to avoid mold and mildew.
Where squirrels are not disturbed by people or animals, they will arrange their nests in lower juniper bushes. But in this case, as in the trees, the squirrel’s nest in a convenient location. Sometimes squirrels will rig magpies’ and other birds’ nests for them to live in. This is when squirrels take their nest flight from their more predatory relatives, the squirrels.
The former sleep in their burrows during the day to avoid predators. Despite their long sleeping hours, they are unusually active when awake. They sleep almost twice as much as we humans do each day. Squirrels feed primarily on foods rich in carbohydrates, protein and fat, such as pine seeds and pecans. This may be an important reason why they sleep 14 hours a day. In addition to squirrels, golden hamsters and ferrets basically sleep that long every day.
Tree Hole: The Home a Squirrel Wants
Ecological studies have shown that tree holes are an important component of forest ecosystems and play an important role in maintaining species diversity in forest ecosystems. The density of tree holes directly affects the diversity and abundance of tree-hole nesting animals, while the height of tree holes, hole size, type and hole orientation are also major factors limiting the abundance of tree-hole nesting animals. This is because different tree-hole nesting animals have different needs for tree-hole features.
In fact, many tree holes are found in older trees and occasionally in smaller trees. Some trees in the forest will naturally decay in the heart when they reach old age and gradually form cavities over the years. Some tree trunks have broken off lateral branches, which slowly decay under the action of rain and fungus to form cavities. Some are the work of burrowing animals like squirrels, which excavate rounded holes in the main trunks of trees as their nests. What is less well known, however, is that these holes in trees are their homes, not only for sheltering small animals from the elements, but also for nesting and reproduction.
In short, we need to protect all animals in nature from malicious predation. Create conditions for their survival and also do not disturb the balance of nature. The little squirrels have a rough road to grow up, but in their hard struggle, they slowly become stronger and more confident. These are wonderful qualities that we can learn from them.