Origin and lifestyle of the common squirrel

A long plumed tail, amazing red fur, huge lively eyes and a sly look - this is the appearance of the red squirrel, one of the most common inhabitants of our forests. Having appeared on Earth several million years ago, this small rodent is today distributed throughout the world, where there is a forest that provides shelter for it.

The order of rodents, uniting about 2000 species, is one of the largest in the class of mammals, whose representatives are distributed throughout the world. Its origins are lost in history and poorly understood.

Today, the most ancient genus is Acritoparamys, which inhabited North America in the Paleocene, about 70 million years ago. Belonging to the family Iscbyromyides, this genus can be considered as the most likely ancestor of all rodents. Living in the Eocene, about 50 million years ago, representatives of the genus Paramys (their appearance was completely restored - perhaps with only minor errors) already had the basic characteristics of a squirrel. The direct ancestor of the squirrel is probably one of the representatives of the genus Protoscirius, which formed at the beginning of the Oligocene (about 40 million ago). It was during this period that the evolutionary transition of Iscbyromyides into the new family Sciurides took place. It includes animals, sometimes completely different from each other, such as marmots, prairie dogs, American and Asian flying squirrels and, finally, squirrels. Representatives of the genus Protoscirius at that time still retained a primitive structure of teeth, and the structure of the skeleton and bones of the middle ear, on the contrary, was so perfect that they could be mistaken for the remains of modern squirrels. The genus Sciurus is known already in the Miocene (from 30 to 10 million years ago), which allows it to sometimes be considered as a living fossil. This genus currently includes about 30 species, and the 260 modern species of sciurids that originated from it have spread throughout the world, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica.

The common squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, leading an arboreal lifestyle, appeared in Western Europe relatively late - about 3 million years ago.

This late settlement of the continent is certainly explained by the glaciation period, during which the cold that reigned here favored the formation of steppes, rather than the forests necessary for squirrels. This species, Palaearctic in origin, populated Western Europe only when the steppe fauna gave way to forest fauna - immediately before the last glaciation. The squirrels survived the harsh conditions of the last onslaught of the glacier, finding refuge in the forested areas of the south of the continent, and after the climate warmed, they quickly settled throughout its north.

Currently, the common squirrel is ubiquitous in the northern forests of Eurasia, the Russian taiga, and mixed forests of Europe, combining coniferous and deciduous trees. It is not found in England, where it has given way to the Carolina gray squirrel, and it has never been found on the Mediterranean islands, whose vegetation does not suit it. It is almost never found in groves. The distribution of the common squirrel is limited exclusively to forest areas. In the mountains, it is not the cold or snow that is an obstacle for her, but the complete absence of trees.

The common squirrel prefers to live near forests, where coniferous trees predominate, on which its nutrition largely depends. The main food of squirrels consists of seeds enclosed at the base of the cones. This is such an important element of nutrition that the animals, without the slightest doubt, will move into coniferous forests at the moment the cones ripen in order to enjoy the harvest to their heart's content. On the other hand, poor fruiting of gymnosperms encourages squirrels (primarily young animals) to mass migrations over many kilometers.

In the heart of London, in Regent's Park, the last common red squirrel was seen in 1942. In 1984, a project for its reintroduction was developed. The Zoological Society of London attempted to restore the species by releasing 10 individuals captured in Scotland. After medical examination and fitting of small radiant collars, 3 males and 7 females were released into Regent's Park in October 1984. Feeders were provided for them to aid acclimatization. In order to study the behavioral characteristics of common squirrels, they were placed next to the Carolina gray squirrels in the ratio: 10 common squirrels to 150 Carolina squirrels. This made the red squirrels furious. In most cases, the gray squirrels chased away the red ones. Gray males even showed interest in red females who were in a state of hunting, but their intentions were each time interrupted by the performances playing out between red females and males. After 20 months, only 2 out of 10 animals remained alive, and no reproduction was recorded at all. Reintroduction is difficult to achieve complete success as numerous factors must be taken into account. If we calculate the density of animals at one individual per hectare, then to accommodate a stable population it is necessary to have a huge amount of space. In addition, urban conditions create serious problems that are difficult to overcome.

Whatever motives Europeans cite, it has long been obvious that they have a favorable attitude toward squirrels. Residents of ancient Rome kept tame squirrels as pets. The squirrel appears in many folk tales and fairy tales, and occupies an important place in Indian and Germanic myths. According to German legend, the god Donar viewed the squirrel as a sacred animal because of its fiery red color. An Indian tale tells how a squirrel drained the ocean with its tail. The Germans and Anglo-Saxons once consecrated it during the celebration of the spring and winter solstice. Even Buffon, in his “Natural History of Quadrupeds,” described it as follows: “The squirrel is a small beautiful animal, only half wild, which, because of its courtesy and humility, the innocence of even its habits, is worthy of preservation ... It is clean, agile, lively, alert , very smart, very skillful; her eyes are full of fire, the expression of her muzzle is refined, her body is strong, her limbs are very mobile; the beauty of her body is emphasized by her magnificent tail in the shape of a plume, which she holds raised to her head and in the shade of which she hides from the sun.” Her movements are described with no less enthusiasm: “She fears water even more than land; they claim that when she needs to overcome a water obstacle, she uses a piece of bark as a vessel, and her tail as an oar and as a rudder! Buffon adds that the hair from its tail is used to make brushes. And its skin, he writes, on the contrary, does not produce good fur.

In the history of the Carolina gray squirrel, common in the northeastern United States, there is a special page associated with the introduction of this species into Europe. The Carolina squirrel was introduced to this continent between 1876 and 1929.

The exotic American species quickly adapted to its new home, and the consequences of its invasion were varied and numerous. In British forests, this squirrel behaves more unceremoniously than the native species. Forest rangers do not like her habit of stripping bark from branches and biting the tops of trees. Scientists still cannot find an explanation for this type of behavior. Is she trying to collect the sweet juice of certain plant species or is the high population density preventing her from meeting her nutritional needs?

The second consequence of the gray squirrel's invasion of Great Britain was the parallel retreat of the local red squirrels. The situation is not so obvious, and experts are still arguing about the true reasons for the extinction of this species. The fact is that historical data indicate that significant fluctuations in the number of common squirrels have existed from time immemorial. For example, it disappeared from Scotland and Ireland in the 18th century, between 1772 and 1782. in 10 different places, in Ireland - in the period 1815-1856. also in 10 different locations. In 1890-1910 the species was numerous, but after 1920 it gradually became rare, and now it never reaches its previous level of abundance. And now the gray squirrel appears in Europe. It is difficult to assess the causes and consequences of the displacement of the red squirrel by the Carolina gray squirrel. It is argued that the decline in the number of red squirrels began even before the importation of gray squirrels. A more careful analysis of the factors showed that there was, after all, a direct relationship between the arrival of one species and the disappearance of another - although it was very variable depending on the region of England affected. Currently, the red squirrel survives in Scotland, north Wales, on the Isle of Wit (where there are no gray squirrels) and in some secluded corners of England.

External structure, development and reproduction

The common squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), which leads a diurnal lifestyle, is always on the alert. Well-developed sense organs help her in this. Indeed, she has excellent wide-field vision. Undoubtedly, the squirrel distinguishes colors - at least some of them. She is especially good at distinguishing vertical objects, which is absolutely necessary for these arboreal animals, which must be able to very accurately estimate the distance between trees.

The squirrel’s sense of touch is also well developed due to the presence of sensory vibrissae (sensitive bristles) grouped on the head, on the paws and on the lateral surfaces of the body.

The squirrel has a very subtle sense of smell: it communicates with other members of its species through odor signals. She also finds her food by smell, especially seeds, which she buries in the ground in anticipation of winter.

Female and male squirrels do not differ in the characteristics of their skin. The only thing that differentiates them is the placement of the anus and genital openings. In winter, the animal's fur becomes extremely thick, and its color changes from dark red to brownish-gray. At the ends of the squirrel's ears there are tassels made of tufts of wool, which are easy to notice - after all, the length of the hairs in them can be more than 3 cm. The back and tail of the animal are painted the same color, and the belly is always lighter - cream or white.

Summer, lighter outfit on top, rather nut-colored; the tassels disappear from the ears until the next winter, and the tail, thinner than in winter, can be either the same color as the back or almost white. These white-tailed squirrels are common in the UK. Elsewhere in Europe, the common squirrel is very dark in color. These animals are melanistic and have black pigment. Scandinavian squirrels exhibit three types of coloration: red, brown (brown) and black (melanistic). It is quite obvious that dark-colored forms have better thermal insulation than red ones, since they have a longer and denser undercoat. This explains the fact that dark-colored animals are more often found in cold climates - in the north and in the mountains.

The squirrel has vibrissae. On the head they form four groups, located above and below the eyes, on the chin and at the end of the muzzle. The remaining whiskers are scattered throughout the body, especially on the hind legs, on the outer surfaces of the front legs, on the lower surface of the body and at the base of the tail. These elongated hairs may play a key role in the squirrel's sense of balance as it leaps into the air.

Squirrels molt twice a year. The spring coat change begins from the front of the body and spreads backward, while the autumn coat changes in the reverse order. However, things are somewhat more complicated. In 1940, Russian zoologist S.I. Ognev, dividing the squirrel’s body into 23 sections, observed the sequence of molting. It starts at the tip of the nose, then sheds hair around the eyes, cheeks, paws, throat and sides. In autumn, the area at the base of the tail is the first to be affected. It should be noted that each animal has its own shedding rhythm, even in the same geographic area. The fur on the tips of the ears and on the tail changes only once a year. The growth of new fur on these parts of the body sometimes begins until December.

Squirrels, as a rule, lead a solitary lifestyle, occupying individual plots of varying sizes, on average 2-5 hectares. Sometimes it happens that a married couple divides their living space, living on the same territory. If adult individuals live separately, then the male’s area (approximately 3-5 hectares) is much larger than that of the female (2.5-4.5 hectares). The male actually uses the entire territory he occupies, and the female’s life takes place only in part of the space belonging to her. So, if its territory extends over 3.4 hectares, then it will actively defend only an area of 1 or 2 hectares from the invasions of its fellow tribesmen.

The size of a squirrel's individual territory depends on the proximity of the forest and the food resources found in it. The larger the seed harvest, the smaller the area. It follows from this that squirrels living in deciduous forests have much larger areas than those living in coniferous or mixed forests.

The normal density of animals is about one individual per hectare. However, once every 5-6 years there is a change in this indicator, apparently due to the periodic abundance of food. Regardless of the type of habitat, the stronger the male, the larger the territory he is able to defend and the greater the number of females on its periphery he tries to maintain relationships with.

In squirrels, one or several nests can be easily seen in each individual area. The owner animals either build them themselves, or rebuild abandoned crow's nests, or adapt tree hollows for these purposes.

Nests are often located at the top of a tree and can reach 50cm in diameter. Their walls are made up of twigs and leaves and the inside is covered with moss and blades of grass. The entrance hole is located on the side surface of the nest and is most often closed. The nests in which offspring are born, or those in which squirrels survive the vicissitudes of winter, do not differ significantly from the shelters used during the rest of the year. Winter and maternity nests do not differ qualitatively from other types of housing; they are only somewhat more comfortable and are kept in better condition.

Different-sex neighbors in squirrels are more tolerant of each other than same-sex neighbors. The most common invasions of the territory of same-sex neighbors are made. In spring and summer, males regularly explore almost their entire territory in search of food, which is still rare at this time, and also in the hope of finding neighbors who are ready to mate. In autumn, during the fruiting period of oak, beech and conifers, squirrels move much less. While most ground squirrels hibernate in winter, tree squirrels leave their nests from time to time to replenish their food supplies. Often squirrels are forced to wait out bad weather, staying in the nest for several days.

The arrival of January usually marks the beginning of the season of love. The female is fertile for only 1–2 days in the breeding cycle. When she is in heat, she announces her presence by leaving traces of urine and vaginal discharge on her territory. Several males can compete for a female, sometimes even sorting things out by force. As a rule, the strongest one enjoys the female's favor. He spins around her, impressively makes long runs along the branches, from time to time interrupting this activity to utter a certain cry. During such ceremonies, the female comes to terms with the presence of the male, and mating can soon take place.

During the female's hunting period, the male stays next to her for 1-2 days, and then completely leaves her, giving her the opportunity to raise her offspring on his own. Pregnancy lasts 38 days. If mating took place at the end of January, then the birth of the cubs will occur at the end of March, during a time of still harsh weather conditions. At this time, the internal temperature of the nest reaches +200C, while the outside temperature is 00C.

Squirrels give birth to 3–4 babies, naked and pink, weighing 8–12 g. Despite the fact that the babies are not yet sufficiently developed, all parts of their body are already strong and strong. The first fur appears after 10–13 days, and by 20 days their body is already completely covered with fur. The eyes open only at the age of one month. 15 days after this, the female can stop milk feeding, as the young begin to settle in the vicinity of the nest and eat their first solid food in life. In this case, problems may arise, since the fruits and seeds do not ripen very soon. Milk feeding lasts up to 8 weeks, after which the young leave the nest to go deeper into the forest and find their own territory.

At the end of May another mating season begins. These offspring are born in July and become independent in September, when food resources are richest. Animals born at this time have a greater survival rate than those born in the first litter. Young people from the second generation have enough time to accumulate reserves of subcutaneous fat and store food in the roots of trees. And yet, only a quarter of the new generation of squirrels reaches the age of one year, and having crossed this critical threshold, the animals live on average for at least ten years.

Nutrition, ecology and meaning in nature

The diet of squirrels is not at all limited to pine cones. She can manage a wide range of seasonal feeds. In spring, it willingly eats tender shoots and buds, and the bark of young branches. In summer, the squirrel looks for fruits that ripen in the forest, be it berries or fruits. With strong teeth, she easily cracks nuts, such as hazel, getting to the tasty kernel. Sometimes, however, the squirrel deviates from its plant-based and granivorous diet.

If the opportunity arises, she may well grab a chick or steal an egg from a poorly hidden or poorly protected nest, or catch a few insects. This deviation towards carnivory is not at all the rule for squirrels, but a reflection of the ability often observed in rodents to diversify their menu, especially when other food sources are scarce.

The squirrel often descends to the ground. It is there, on the paths that she uses most often, that she arranges her hiding places. Anticipating winter difficulties, adult animals mark cones with their scent, which they carefully bury to a depth of 30 cm. Sometimes they forget the exact place where they hid the grains. Kids, like their parents, collect and bury edible objects in the ground, guided by an innate reflex.

While on the ground, a squirrel can collect fallen fruits or pick several mushrooms, among which it has its own favorite types. She also goes downstairs to sit on a tree stump, where she could calmly refresh herself, gnawing on a pine cone or nut. Examination of the remains of her meal provides a wealth of information.

It is not difficult to distinguish who was feasting here - a vole or a squirrel, a young or an adult. The squirrel acts more roughly than the vole; a young animal, less sophisticated in life experience, begins to peel the pine cone from several sides at once, and gnaws a large hole in the nut shell, which adults never do.

Starting to eat a nut (hazel or walnut), the squirrel holds it with its front paws and upper incisors, then bites the shell and gnaws it, as if checking it with the lower incisors, which serve as levers for breaking the shell into two. On an opened nut, only a few bite marks located at a certain point can be seen. As for the cones, it should be noted that the squirrel picks them off, and wood mice and voles are forced to chew them off. There will always be a few scales left on the top of a pine cone (the end opposite where the pine cone attaches to the branch) eaten by a squirrel.

Having stretched out its body, balancing on a spruce branch, balancing its position with its tail pointing down, the squirrel stretches its front paws forward, trying to reach the branch on which the desired fruit hangs. To get food, a squirrel can take the most unusual poses. Her front paws, with a short thumb and four longer toes with sharp claws, allow her to easily grab and tear down hanging objects.

A squirrel's water requirement is determined by how much moisture is contained in its food. The seeds are rich in fatty substances, but poor in water, so the squirrel must go to water quite often. The animal should drink even more often in the summer, when the need for water increases. Trappers (hunters in North America) are well aware of this habit and use water to attract squirrels to their traps.

To peel a nut from the shell, the squirrel uses innate techniques that work without misfire. Young people learn early to distinguish good nuts from wormy ones, mercilessly throwing away spoiled ones.

Sitting on a stump, the squirrel examines the surroundings. Catching the slightest sound and seeing every movement with wide eyes, she is always on alert. Surrounded by countless enemies, the squirrel must escape their attacks at any moment.

The existence of the common squirrel in the coniferous forests of Eurasia, as well as its related Nearctic species from the forests of North America, is largely associated with the availability of living space available to everyone, with the abundance of tree seed harvests and with the level of competition between animals for food and other resources. All herbivorous animals find themselves in the same situation. Jays, crossbills, nutcrackers and some tits, and these are just a few species of birds alone, all feed on coniferous seeds. In years when there are few cones, these species survive solely due to their feeding habits. Those who cannot diversify it with other elements, as a rule, are forced to migrate in search of better places. The same phenomenon can be observed in deciduous forests, especially among pigeons and pheasants. Forest and garden dormice can also feed on the same seeds and grains as squirrels (nuts, acorns, etc.).

In Siberia, the Eurasian flying squirrel is the only species of tree squirrel that coexists with the common squirrel. The fact that she is nocturnal significantly reduces the possibility of conflicts with her red-haired relative. The only reason for collisions between them is limited by the number of places suitable for nesting. The flying squirrel lives in tree hollows. Sometimes a common squirrel, taking advantage of the fact that it is larger than a flying squirrel, can forcibly take possession of its home.

Following American researchers who studied the relationships between animals of their continent, we can draw a more general conclusion that it is extremely rare for more than two species that feed on seeds and grains to settle in the same territory. If several species of squirrels appear to coexist, it is easy to see that their nutritional needs differ, as do their lifestyles. Consequently, the risk of collisions between them is minimized.

The common squirrel has a great many enemies. Danger threatens from everywhere - from the air, from the trees, and from the ground. Both nocturnal and daytime bird predators see the squirrel as their prey. Everything from an eagle owl to a hawk. In the trees, a squirrel can be waylaid by a marten. She is agile and fast enough to do this from time to time, although squirrel does not form the main part of her diet. Research conducted in Scandinavia estimates how many squirrels fall prey to martens. The highest numbers were obtained in winter and ranged from 2–3% to almost 50%. This, of course, depends on the amount of other prey available. Watching a marten chase a squirrel can sometimes bring true aesthetic pleasure. A pursued squirrel seeks refuge on the upper, thin branches of trees. Despite all her agility and liveliness, she does not always manage to escape from the marten. Sometimes it happens that a predator takes possession of a squirrel at night in its own nest. Such an unceremonious invasion often ends with both falling to the ground and the victory of the marten.

The hawk is also an equally dangerous enemy of the squirrel. Females of these birds, which are larger than males, have a better chance of success. 15 years of observations of the diet of hawks in Sweden showed that their menu includes 9% protein from all types of prey brought to the nest. The maximum value of this indicator was 34%.

The loss of several specimens taken by one or another predator does not threaten the survival of the species. In addition to the listed enemies, the squirrel can also encounter others, such as domestic and feral cats. These predators attack only if they are sure that the squirrel will offer only weak resistance, and their numbers are not so large, so their influence on the populations of the common squirrel is negligible.

When it comes to squirrels, everyone has an idea of a cheerful red-haired rascal frolicking in the branches of trees. Seeing such a person’s attitude towards the squirrel, permeated with sympathy, one should not be deceived - it can be exactly the opposite: a serious threat hangs over some species. In Russia it is hunted for its fur, and in the USA it has become a popular object of sport hunting.

Squirrels can come into contact with many diseases transmitted to humans. Among them were two bacterial diseases: tularemia and plague. The first of these most often affects hares, but squirrels can also become infected. A person, in turn, can become infected through the skin by touching an animal that has died from tularemia. While the plague no longer wreaks havoc in Europe, it still rages in the Americas, Africa and Asia. It is rare for a person to become infected with the plague from a squirrel. But you still need to be careful. Much more often, rodents that are companions of people can become infected with it. And then the chain can extend all the way to humans, because the rat flea (unlike the fleas of other mammals) can transmit this disease.

Despite endless calls for extreme caution when it comes to importing new species, this advice is not always followed. Being soft on this issue can lead to serious consequences for species already existing in the area.

So, in France, on the Cape of Antibes, in the early 80s. noticed the presence of one of the Asian species of squirrels. Possibly a native of Vietnam. Nobody knows who, when and how it was brought there. The presence of squirrels was detected by numerous harmful effects even when the population reached its highest numbers. The Cape d'Antibes is covered with lush gardens, among which stands out the botanical garden of the biological station of the National Institute of Agronomic Research of France (Villa Touré), which contains tree species from all corners of the globe, all possible varieties that are in danger of extinction in nature. Newly arrived squirrels in such conditions can easily cause damage by raiding these exotic trees. If the animals have already won the sympathy of local residents, they are met with a restrained attitude from botanists and zoologists, since scientists are afraid of their spread throughout the country.

Meanwhile, another overseas species is also found in France - the Siberian chipmunk. Although this animal leads a terrestrial, burrowing lifestyle, in other respects it differs little from tree squirrels. It easily adapts to the natural conditions of France. Man made him a pet - an important source of commerce.

In the Yakut taiga, the main enemies of squirrels are sable, eagle owl and goshawk. The squirrel's parasites include 5 species of cestodes, 8 species of nematodes, 1 species of acanthocephalan, and 3 species of fleas. Of these, the most common are the cestode Humenolepis horrida and the nemotode Syphacia thompsoni.

The common squirrel makes its nests mainly on forest pine or common spruce. In Asia, it is inextricably linked with coniferous forests, and in Southern and Western Europe, many squirrels inhabit mixed forests of deciduous trees, spruce and pine. In such forests, the food supply for squirrels expands significantly.

Squirrel density varies across geographic areas; if in some it is relatively high, then in others its low values indicate the almost complete extinction of the species over vast areas. These differences are likely due to a variety of reasons that are still poorly understood. The nutritional factor undoubtedly plays an important role, but epidemics of certain viral diseases can also affect the number and density of squirrels.

Even if the common squirrel can cause some harm here and there, in particular by destroying several trees, in the general balance of the forest, by and large it still plays a positive role. Nevertheless, forest rangers sometimes forget about this, remembering only that the squirrel has an unpleasant habit of nibbling the bark from the shoots. Spiral-twisted strips of bark hang from the branches. Most often, attacks are made on trees that are between 10 and 40 years old. And each time the problem becomes serious only when the density of the squirrel population reaches 2 individuals per hectare, and this happens relatively rarely.

On the other hand, the squirrel's habit of hiding grains and mushrooms by burying them in the ground to a depth of 30 cm can be beneficial for the forest. In fact, if the squirrel perfectly remembers where in its possessions it collects seeds and grains, then it often forgets its hiding places. Without looking too hard for them, she thus plants new plants. Small mammals that collect the grains hidden by the squirrel and store them in their own food stores contribute to the renewal of vegetation and, if you look further, to the survival of the forest. It has been noticed that tree seeds, spreading naturally (for example, simply falling to the ground), rarely end up on soil favorable for their germination. Therefore, the delivery of seeds to suitable places, which is provided by proteins, becomes of utmost importance. Compared to the amount of conifer seeds that the squirrel collects, the tiny fraction that it consumes is just the tree's payment for the fact that its seeds will germinate. This is the point of view that the forester should take, and not be guided by superficial observations.

Another aspect of regulation is drawing special attention to the environment surrounding the squirrel, to the conditions in which it lives and raises its offspring. In order to accommodate a stable, viable population, an area of about 100 hectares is required. If squirrels are causing damage, simple population management measures can solve the problem. To control a population, there is no need to remove any of the individuals.

Conclusion: Currently, the common squirrel is widespread in the northern forests of Eurasia, the Russian taiga, and mixed forests of Europe, combining coniferous and deciduous trees. It is not found in England, where it has given way to the Carolina gray squirrel, and it has never been found on the Mediterranean islands, whose vegetation does not suit it.

In Yakutia, the Belich family - Sciuridae is represented by 4 genera: the genus Susliki - Citellus (2 species - American and long-tailed ground squirrels), the genus Marmot - Mamota (1 species - black-capped marmot), the genus Belki - Sciurus (1 species - common squirrel) , genus Chipmunks – Tamias (1 species - chipmunk). Based on the color of the tail, the squirrels of Yakutia are divided into black-tailed, red-tailed and brown-tailed. Black-tailed squirrels have a uniform grayish-black dorsal color in winter, brownish-black in summer, and a black tail. In red-tailed squirrels, the winter color of the dorsal side is light gray with a red tint, the summer color is with a predominance of red shades, and the tail is red. Brown-tailed squirrels are intermediate in color with varying intensities of red on a gray background. Black-tailed squirrels are distributed mainly east of the river. Lena, red-tailed - to the west of the river. Lena, brown-tailed, mainly in the border zone of habitat of these two ridges. The male and female are similar in color.

The squirrel's habit of hiding grains and mushrooms by burying them in the ground to a depth of 30 cm can be useful for the forest. In fact, if the squirrel perfectly remembers where in its possessions it collects seeds and grains, then it often forgets its hiding places. Without looking too hard for them, she thus plants new plants. It has been noticed that tree seeds, spreading naturally (for example, simply falling to the ground), rarely end up on soil favorable for their germination. Therefore, the delivery of seeds to suitable places, which is provided by proteins, becomes of utmost importance.