An eastern grey squirrel snacking in the winter.
There are many species of squirrels throughout the world.Three major families, which include the flying, tree and ground squirrel, live in the United States. Each has distinct habitats. Some are arboreal, living in trees. Others live on the ground and dig burrows for shelter. Not all squirrels hibernate in the winter. Only ground squirrels hibernate, but winter habitats are nevertheless crucial to survival.
Geographical habitats
Flying squirrels are primarily found in the northern and eastern states. Some more rare species also live in Arizona, California and Utah. Tree squirrels are abundant everywhere including Canada, Alaska and the Pacific coast. Ground squirrels are a western state species, found west of the Mississippi River.
Flying Squirrel
Sometimes in the snow you might see death-defying leaps as the flying squirrel spreads open a flap of skin between its legs to glide through the air from tree to tree.The flying squirrel is a nocturnal species that only lives in trees that produce food it consumes such as hickory, pine, oak and spruce trees. it drinks water collected in tree cavities and builds two nests called dreys. One is for living, the other to store food. The drey is lined with tree bark and pine needles for insulation against winter's cold. This provides a great deal of warmth during the late winter when squirrels mate.
Tree Squirrel
The tree squirrel is awake during the day and builds dreys from twigs and leaves. To insulate from the winter, the inside of its drey is lined with soft materials such as feathers, moss, and lichens. These squirrels also use their tails as a blanket. In extreme cold, many squirrels will huddle together and remain still to keep the drey warm.Their only activity is eating their stored food.
Ground Squirrel
Approximately 23 species of ground squirrels exist in the United States. Several species can be found across North America. They are plentiful in the west living in fields and grassy locations. They all live underground in burrows with chambers for sleeping, performing and storage of their food. The burrow's entrances and exits are hidden with rocks and shrubs.These squirrels do hibernate for winter. They congregate in groups underground and must eat a lot to build up body fat to withstand the cold.
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