Liam's Question:

John: I've been searching on the net for what should be an easy question that popped up in school, but no luck. Can you tell me where squirrels live?

Liam

Answer:

Liam,

Who isn't nuts about squirrels? They're cute, charismatic, and unlike many mammals they are usually active — even downright busy — throughout daylight hours, which makes them fairly easy to see and observe.

	Sam Fried Sam FriedSam Fried has seen and photographed almost all North American birds. Meet Sam Previous Answers

The squirrel family is big, running the gamut from the well-known tree squirrels such as the eastern gray squirrel and fox squirrel, to chipmunks, ground squirrels, marmots, and prairie dogs. The woodchuck, found throughout the eastern US, is the largest North American squirrel, and also the most anti-social, living its life pretty much alone. Marmots are the western cousins of the woodchuck — they excavate dens in rocky slopes and mountain foothills, and let out a loud chirp or whistle when they see danger.

The eastern gray and fox squirrels are among the most common and readily seen of this large family. They've adapted very well to civilization and do just fine in urban greenspaces and suburban areas; give them a few mature trees and a nearby bird feeder to raid, and they're home! The gray squirrel's habit of burying hickory and beech nuts, acorns, and walnuts helps plant future forests. The red squirrel can make do around people, too, though it also thrives in wild landscapes. This little squirrel is really acrobatic and vocal, and won't hesitate to let you know when you've entered its territory, which usually includes mature conifers, as it feeds heavily on the seeds of pine, spruce, and fir trees.

Prairie dogs are the most social member of the squirrel family. They live in a large colony called a “town,” each of which is divided into several family neighborhoods called “wards.” The town may cover more than 100 acres. A labyrinth of underground burrows include separate chambers for sleeping and toilet facilities. Family members do a lot of nuzzling and kissing as a means of identifying one another. There are several species of prairie dog, found from the Dakotas and Montana south to Arizona and Texas. The black-tailed prairie dog was once among the most common animals on the western prairies, but it has suffered extensive population declines since native grasslands were converted to cropfields and livestock grazing. It may be listed soon as an endangered species.