Red Squirrels Habits

Squirrel Diversion Feeders

Red Squirrels lead solitary lives, and each defends a territory of between 2 and 5 acres from others of the same species and from gray squirrels.

Despite its smaller size, red squirrels are much more aggressive than grays and will chase the larger gray out of its territory.

They do not hibernate but remain active all year, although they may remain sheltered in one spot for a few days during harsh weather.

For Products See:

Squirrel Proof Feeders or Squirrel Feeders

Description

In summer its fur is a rusty, reddish-brown turning slightly grayer in winter, and the underside is white.

In summer, a black stripe is pronounced along its sides, separating the white underside from the reddish, upper body. Both males and females are about equal in size.

Mating Breeding Habits

Designed for Squirrels Roosting and Nesting

The nesting habits are similar to the Grays, although they prefer nesting in conifers.

The nest is constructed of shredded bark from a grapevine and located in a hollow or fallen tree, a hole in the ground, a hummock, or a tree crotch. Sometimes red squirrels nest in holes at the base of trees.

Feeding Habits

Red squirrels are also known to tap sugar maple trees to harvest the sugar in the sap.

They actually bite into the tree trunk to puncture the sap-carrying "vessel" (xylem), leave the tree to allow time for the water in the sap to evaporate, and come back to harvest the syrup remaining on the trunk and branches.

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