Squirrels

The Minnesota gopher, famous symbol of the University of Minnesota, is actually the 13-lined ground squirrel. It weighs from five to nine ounces, and is buff colored with light and dark stripes down its back.

The "gopher" is found in pastures, roadsides, and other short grass areas throughout the state, except the northeast. Seeds and insects are its main foods. While many burrowing animals leave piles of dirt about their burrow, the gopher scatters the dirt widely. Entrances to its burrow appear only as small holes on the surface.

Except for its shorter, thinner tail, the light spots on the upper body, the Franklin ground squirrel might be mistaken for the slightly larger gray squirrel. Of course, their habitats--and habits--are quite different, though both may frequent the same woods. This ground squirrel is found in denser vegetation than the 13-lined ground squirrel. Its typical habitat is found along fencelines, railroad rights-of-way, and open woodlands in prairie regions of the state. It is most common in the northwest brushlands. Rather shy, it seldom ventures out of the high grass and keeps to its burrow on cloudy days.

The Franklin feeds on green plants, seeds, insects, bird eggs, and nestlings. It has never been a noticeable enemy of the farmer, but modern agricultural techniques have reduced its numbers.

The Richardson ground squirrel, or flickertail, resembles a small prairie dog as it sits upright beside its burrow. Also nicknamed picket pin, this little plains-dweller favors short grass pastures. The flickertail is common in the Dakotas but in Minnesota is usually founding isolated colonies in over-grazed pastures. When drought periods occur, conditions become more suitable for them to become abundant along roadsides and in other grassland areas.

Like other ground squirrels and chipmunks, the flickertail has internal cheek pouches within which it carries grain to its burrow. The animal stores seeds in the fall but does not wake up during winter to consume them. Perhaps the food it eats in the fall provides the body fat it burns for energy during hibernation.

Colored smoky gray and buff, this squirrel may sleep (aestivate) in the summer and enter hibernation in September. It may be active no more than four months of the year. But in that brief time, it destroys much grain--at least it did in years past, when it was extensively poisoned because of its destructive habits.

The eastern gray squirrel and eastern fox squirrel are among the most sought-after small game animals in Minnesota. A squirrel pressed in hiding against a tree is a challenging target. Moreover, its speed on the ground and through the treetops has vexed many a squirrel hunter.

Both squirrel species make their homes in tree cavities but also build leafy nests in summer and fall. By chewing on the scars where small dead branches have fallen, squirrels help to make nesting cavities for future generations. [Fungi soon invades the wood, softening it to create the hollows.] Squirrels occasionally raise their young in the attics of houses. They are not welcome guests, however, because they usually chew through the walls to gain entry. Young squirrels are born in spring and fall, about four per litter.

Acorns, hazelnuts, walnuts, and seeds of many trees, plus fungi, and elm buds in late winter--all are important foods for squirrels. Squirrels are accused of digging up laws as they bury acorns. They may also dig up flower bulbs and, in years past, were serious pests around small cornfields and wooden corn cribs.

Gray squirrels may have white or brownish bellies and, in winter, white ear tufts. Black and albino squirrels are variations of the gray squirrel. The larger fox squirrels are gray above, white with an orange cast below, and have an orange tail. In Minnesota, there is little color variation.

Though often found in the same woodlands, the two species have different habitat preferences. Grays like denser woods and more populated towns; fox squirrels like grazed woods and small groves and so occur farther west on the plains of the Dakotas. Both inhabit slightly more than the eastern half of the U.S.

Less than half as large as the gray, the red (pine) squirrel lives throughout our nation's snowbelt, in mountainous regions and Canada. It is most associated with coniferous woods but hardwoods and thickets, even in the northern prairies, also provide habitat. A leaf nest, usually in a tree cavity or in a crotch of a tree, is its home. However, buildings are also used (one nest was found in an old gasoline pump).

The red squirrel is rusty red above, with a whitish belly, gray sides, and ears that are tufted in winter. It is noted for its bright eyes, perky disposition, and chattering, rattling call.

Foods of the red squirrel are many--nuts and seeds (especially of evergreen trees), berries, insects, bird eggs, and nestlings. It commonly buries nuts and seeds, either in small piles or singly, for use on winter days.

Flying squirrels do not fly, but glide from one perch to another. Their "flight" is made possible by a fold of skin, a membrane which extends from the front to the hind feet. When the legs are outstretched, the skin stretches out tautly to form a large planing surface which enables the squirrel to glide as far as 150 feet, though most glides are between 20 and 30 feet.

Living in tree hollows or leaf nests, flying squirrels are the only nocturnal squirrels in Minnesota. Seldom will you see them on their tracks. Food is stored in tree hollows for winter use.

Flying squirrels are noted for their dense fur, glossy olive-brown above and white below, large brown eyes, and mild disposition. Only the shrews and moles have fur that comes close in softness and silkiness to that of flying squirrels.

Weighing two ounces, the southern flying squirrel is found in hardwood forests east of the plains states. It is absent in the northern third of Minnesota.

The northern flying squirrel is very similar to the other species of flying squirrel, though it is heavier and weighs up to six ounces. This squirrel is widespread in coniferous and mixed forests across Canada, the northern U.S. and mountain ranges. It is absent in the southern third of Minnesota.