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The squirrel - Squirrel
- Sciurus vulgaris

Order: Rodents - Family: Sciuridae

Sciurus vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758)

Biogeographical location:
Eurosiberian

A Front paw print:
length ~4 cm; width ~2 cm
P Hind paw print :
length ~5 cm; width ~2.5-3.5 cm

Distinctive features: head-body length 190-290 mm; tail 140-340 mm; hind foot 52-66 mm; weight 230-480 g. Medium size, long tail completely covered with long hairs and often folded over the back. Slender shape with head and neck well distinguished from the trunk; forelimbs shorter than the hind limbs, the latter adapted for jumping; relatively large ears. Rich and fine fur, very variable in color with seasonal dimorphism and different chromatic phases partly correlated with geographical distribution, habitat, and climatic factors; generally reddish-brown in summer, with the lower parts of the body white, dark brown in winter.

Habitat: preferably in woods, both coniferous and broad-leaved with undergrowth; in the mountains it goes up to the limit of arboreal vegetation; also in parks and gardens.

Habits: essentially diurnal, very active in the good season, less so in winter. Lives almost exclusively in trees, is an extraordinary climber, runs very fast and jumps to the ground even from considerable heights using its tail as a parachute and spreading its toes to cushion the impact. For resting and raising the young it uses a nest placed in the hollow of trees or at their fork. Diet is very varied, mainly plant-based (buds, shoots, herbs, leaves, fruits, seeds, mushrooms...), but also small animals, nestlings of birds and their eggs, insects. Hides and stores food in tree cavities. Equipped with acute senses, especially sight. The reproductive period goes from the end of December to September, with two litters; after a gestation of 38 days, 3-4 naked, blind young weighing 10 g are born; at 20 days they are covered with fur, at 30 they open their eyes, at 45 they begin to leave the nest; at 2 months they are weaned, at 3 they are independent. Sexual maturity is reached at 10-12 months. The maximum lifespan is, in the wild, 6-7 years, in captivity 12 years. It is mainly preyed upon by the marten, the wildcat, the largest falconiforms and strigiforms.

Status: numerous.

General distribution: Europe (including the British Isles); Siberia; Mongolia; Korea; Sakhalin and Japan. In Italy it is present everywhere except the islands.

Existing protection: hunting the squirrel was a normal practice in the past (as for all other mammal species). Under Law no.157/92 it has become a protected species. It is also considered a protected species by the Bern Convention (Law 5/8/1981, no.503, in force for Italy since 1/6/1982). Today the greatest danger is represented by the presence of the invasive North American gray squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis, larger and ubiquitous.

SQUIRREL SHEET.pdf