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Previous Issues > January 2008 > Wildville! > Squirrel
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 Wildville!
Squirrel
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
January 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day really. This day was created by Christy Hargrove to help the public become more aware of wildlife rehabilitation. One way to celebrate this day is to put some extra food out for these furry creatures.
The Eastern grey squirrel is one of the most common animals. You can find this animal not just in forests, but in your backyard, your neighborhood park, and dashing across city streets. Squirrels are rodents, and the squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks and even prairie dogs (despite their name, they aren't dogs!). There are more than 250 species in the squirrel family. Squirrels are found on every continent in the world, except Antarctica and Australia.
Squirrels have four large incisor teeth that are used for gnawing. These teeth grow throughout the life of the animal. If the squirrel did not gnaw on things to wear them down, they would continue to grow until they punctured their skull! Squirrels have a wide range of vision and are able to judge distance well, which helps when jumping from branch to branch. They also have a good sense of smell and hearing. Squirrels can rotate their hind legs and hook their claws onto trees, which allows them to hang upside down and vertically descend (like in the photo!). The Eastern grey squirrel can live up to 15 years.
Do squirrels really fly? Flying squirrels have a loose flap of skin connecting their front and hind legs. During a long jump, this flap spreads out and allows the squirrel to glide through the air. The giant flying squirrel can glide more than 1300 feet!
Sources: Squirrel, Encyclopaedia Brittanica; WNC-Rehab, Christy Hargrove, christywisty.tripod.com. Photo: Kirk Kirkpatrick.
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