American Red Squirrels

American Red Squirrels are about 12 inches long. They have grayish, red, or rusted colored fur with a white belly. In the summer, sometimes they have black stripes on the sides. They can be found in the forests of Alaska, the east coast north of Georgia, and the rocky mountains. They have white around their eyes. They have long bodies and have some very thick hair.

The American Red Squirrel is sedentary, solitary, and defends territory. During breeding season males wander from their territories to find a female. Females allow their trespass on her territory. They bark, chatter, scream, and purr to communicate with one another. They also use body language to communicate such as stopping their feet or moving their tails. They really like to chew on things, such as wood.

Some American Red Squirrels like to eat seeds. Others like to eat nuts including beechnuts, acorns, as well as fruit. They are predators to Songbirds. They eat their eggs and young birds when they get a chance. They also eat berries. The best food for a Red Squirrel are sunflower seeds, hazelnuts in their shell, and unsalted peanuts. And they really like pine cones. 

Females usually breed when they are a year old. Red squirrels are territorial but males must temporarily leave to find a reproductive female and return after mating. Red Squirrels do not lay eggs. The mother builds a nest made of sticks and leaves on a crook tree to give birth. A month after mating a mother can give birth to 3-7 babies. 

American Red Squirrels depend on food, insects, small animals, and even young snakes. They depend on a lot of food for the winter. They depend on the rain. They depend on safe habitats. They also depend on fungi, seeds, and nuts. They also depend on each other. They sometimes depend on humans.