Country Life Creatures Animal Charm Page

Squirrel

The Squirrel come's out in the daytime, making them one of the few wild mammals that many of us have a chance of seeing. They are very trusting animals, and are of the very few wild animal species which will eat out of a person’s hand. When a squirrel is scared and feels that it is in danger, it will at first remain motionless. If it is on the ground, it will run to a nearby tree and climb to safety, and if it is already in a tree it will circle the trunk and press up against the bark tightly with its body. Squirrels plan ahead in order to survive the winter months. They store nuts and seeds at different places and return to them throughout the winter to maintain their energy levels when food is scarce. They also put on elaborate food burying displays to deceive other squirrels or birds into thinking that they have stored their food stock there. This is to trick any of these who are watching and planning on taking the stash to focus on the bogus food site, allowing the squirrel to bury the real stash elsewhere safely. Squirrels communicate with each other through various vocalisations and scent marking. They also use their tails as a signalling device, twitching it when uneasy to alert other squirrels of potential danger.

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