Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciuromorpha
Family: Sciuridae
Subfamily: Scirinae
Genus: Tamiasciurus
Species: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Habitat: The red squirrel can
be found in forested habitat.
RED SQUIRREL
Life Cycle: Red squirrels are solitary
but pair for mating in two breeding
seasons in the late winter and mid
summer. They can breed several times
during the breeding season. Females
usually breed when they are 1 year old.
one to eight young are born after a
gestation period of 36 to 40 days. The
young are born blind and hairless,
weighing about ¼ ounce at birth. After
40 days they leave the nest.
Eating Habits: Red Squirrel’s eating habits
consists of eating seeds, fruit, nuts, bark,
buds, shed antlers and needles of spruce trees,
the leaves of willows, bearberry flowers and
berries, poplar buds and catkins and bird eggs
even fungi including mushrooms that are
poisonous to humans Cones of spruce are
harvested by red squirrels in the fall and are
stored to provide energy and nutrients for
survival over the cold winter and for
reproduction in the following spring.
Total Length: 11-14 inches
Tail Length: 4-6 inches
Weight: 5-9 ounces
Average Lifespan: 2-7 years
Interesting facts:
•The young leave the female and are independent during their first winter. Witch means they have to have gathered and stored
winter's supply of food.
•Red squirrels have long toes and sharp claws that allows them to climb vertical surfaces and travel quickly through their
treetop habitat.
Vaneza Meinjueiro