Squirrel: Family of rodents

It includes tree squirrels, which are described on this page.

Squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae

The other squirrels are: ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including groundhogs), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs.

Squirrels are native to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, and have been introduced to Australia. The earliest known squirrels date from the Eocene and are most closely related to the mountain beaver and to the dormouse among living rodent families.

Most squirrels are omnivores; they eat anything they find. Many kinds of squirrels live in trees, so they often find nuts. They eat seeds, berries, and pine cones too. Sometimes they eat bird's eggs and insects. Most tree squirrels store food in the fall, to eat in the winter. Ground squirrels do not store food. They hibernate which means they spend winter in a deep sleep.

Squirrels have many predators or enemies. Their predators are foxes, wolves, coyotes, bears, raccoons, lynxes, cougars, weasels, cats, dogs, badgers, snakes, and birds of prey.

The most common European squirrels are red or brown in color, while common American squirrels are grey or black. Grey squirrels have been introduced from America into Europe (most notably, Great Britain).

The greys carry a virus to which they are immune, but which is deadly to red squirrels. They have taken over most of the red squirrels' territory in deciduous forest. This has greatly reduced the red squirrel's population. Red squirrels still enjoy dominance in the pine forests of northern Britain, but they are now rare in southern areas.

The grey squirrel is regarded as vermin. It is illegal to release any into the wild, and any caught have to be humanely killed.

Life cycle

Squirrels breed in February and March in winter, and in June and July in summer. Females may become pregnant up to twice a year. Usually four to six young are born, after a gestation period (pregnancy) of around thirty-nine days. Only the mother looks after the young, which are born completely helpless. Young squirrels are deaf and blind during the first few weeks of their life.

Most squirrels die in the first year of life. Adult squirrels can have a lifespan of five to ten years in the wild. Some can survive 10 to 20 years in captivity.

Squirrels are considered exotic pets and are legal in only some parts of the world. Areas where they can be kept as pets include Canada and parts of Australia (in New South Wales only) and the United States (in 21 states). They are considered wild animals in most European countries and pests or potential pests in many countries, such as New Zealand and most of Australia.

Summary table

Country	Legal status and information
Australia	In New South Wales, northern palm squirrels can be kept as pets if the owner holds a license issued by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or if the squirrel has to be numerically identified with a microchip or an ear tattoo and the owner must have a certificate from a vet that can verify that the animal has been desexed. In 2010, there were eight licensed squirrel breeders in New South Wales and five pet stores in Sydney that sold them. In Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, squirrels are considered pests and cannot be kept as pets.
Canada	Squirrels may be kept as pets in all provinces and territories of Canada.
France	The red squirrel is a protected species in France and cannot be kept as a pet.
Germany	It is illegal to keep a pet squirrel in Germany, as they are considered wild animals.
New Zealand	It is illegal to import any species of squirrel into New Zealand.
United Kingdom	It is illegal to keep a squirrel as a pet in the United Kingdom.
United States	It is illegal to keep a squirrel as a pet in 28 states and in the District of Columbia, although they may be kept as pets in 21 states. Of these 21 states, no license is needed to keep a squirrel as a pet in 14 states while a license is needed in seven states. It is unknown whether or not squirrels may be kept in Florida, Nevada or North Dakota.

• Flying squirrel