Squirrels

Description

Squirrels are rodents and therefore related to mice, rats and groundhogs. They are agile tree dwelling rodents with bushy tails. More than 200 squirrel species have been documented. Some squirrel species live in the trees and others live on the ground. Squirrels are generally small animals, ranging in size from 3 inches for the African pygmy squirrel to the Laotian giant flying squirrel at 3 ft 7 in in length. Squirrels typically have slender bodies with bushy tails and large eyes. In general, their fur is soft and silky, though much thicker in some species than others. The coat color of squirrels is highly variable between—and often even within—species. Squirrels have an excellent sense of vision, which is especially important for the tree-dwelling species. Many also have a good sense of touch.

Where Do Squirrels Live?

Squirrels live in almost every habitat, from tropical rainforest to semiarid desert, avoiding only the high polar regions and the driest of deserts. They are predominantly herbivorous, subsisting on seeds and nuts, but many will eat insects and even small vertebrates.

Diet

Squirrels cannot digest cellulose, they must rely on foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fats. In temperate regions, early spring is the hardest time of year for squirrels because the nuts they buried are beginning to sprout (and thus are no longer available to eat), while many of the usual food sources have not yet become available. During these times, squirrels rely heavily on the buds of trees. Squirrels, being primarily herbivores, eat a wide variety of plants, as well as nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi, and green vegetation.

Reproduction

Squirrels mate either once or twice a year and, following a gestation period of three to six weeks, give birth to 2 to 6 offspring. Babies are blind and totally dependent on their mothers for two or three months. In most species of squirrel, the female alone looks after the young, which are weaned at six to ten weeks and become sexually mature by the end of their first year.

How To Get Rid of Squirrels

If you have squirrels in your home it is because they were looking for a better habitat than they currently have. Nothing beats consistent temperatures in a dry environment. In fact, your attic is the perfect place to bring up a family!

This is another example of a job you do not want to do yourself. 9 times out of 10 squirrels will have chewed a hole into the siding to gain entry, usually near the roof line. To fix it usually involves ladder work and whenever ladders come out chances of a fall increase. It’s not worth it. Call Jarrod’s Pest Control in Georgia and Alabama to humanely and safely eradicate your squirrel infestation for good.