Squirrels are one of the most common mammals in North America. You will often see squirrels roaming in parks, backyards, or near your home. They are so common that they are considered to be a nuisance and pests in most urban environments. Despite their relatively short lifespan, squirrels continue to thrive in urban and suburban settings, leading many to wonder "where did squirrels originate?" This article will explore the history of squirrels, their habitats, and how they have adapted to the modern world. We will also look into some other interesting facts about these furry little creatures. Squirrel Origins - Where Did Squirrels Come From? The first squirrel, resembling the ones we have now, appeared about fifty million years ago during the Eocene period. During this time there was a wide spread of forests covering most parts of North America and Eurasia. The ancient ancestors of tree squirrels were small mammals that mainly ate fruits or nuts which led them to live in trees for shelter and food resources. When these creatures became extinct ten to twenty million years later due to climate change, their closest relatives survived better because they had advanced dexterity with their paws, greater stamina by being able to hibernate through cold periods as well as other abilities including climbing down trees headfirst so they have better control over their descent. Over time, these squirrels developed different color variations and larger ears for better hearing in order to protect themselves from predators such as birds of prey. They also had a flat tail that was used for balance while running or climbing through trees quickly. Squirrels were able to flourish during this period because they could outwit their predators by using the resources available around them more efficiently than other animals competing for the same food sources. This is how the tree squirrel got its start on this continent! Origin of the Name The word "squirrel" was first attested in 1327 and comes from Anglo-Norman esquirel which is itself from Old French escurel, the reflex of a Latin word sciurus. Sciurus also was derived from an ancient Greek word skiouros meaning 'shadow-tailed'. The name was likely based on the squirrel's most distinctive feature, its bushy tail. Where Do Squirrels Originate From? There are theories for this question. One is that squirrel ancestors lived in trees and over time evolved to move down to the ground because they were being hunted by predators who came from above them. Once these creatures adapted into their new habitat, they began hoarding acorns as a food source which eventually led them back up into trees since it was easier to hide their stash there. This theory may be supported due to bones found of an animal called Protosciurus dating back 50 million years ago during the Eocene epoch. These fossils show evidence of teeth suitable for both tree living and feeding on insects below bushes or other low vegetation types similar to how modern-day squirrels behave today. Today's modern-day squirrel has evolved into three subfamilies: Sciuridae (most are tree squirrels like the eastern grey squirrel), Xerinae (which live near water), and Marmotini (found on grasslands). These subfamilies include over 280 different species across six continents including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.   19th Century Urban Parks and Their Impact on Squirrels in America Squirrel populations would not be what they are today if it were not for 19th-century people adding green spaces to their cities such as Boston Common which was created in 1634 or New York's Central Park that opened its gates in 1858. These parks allowed squirrels to multiply exponentially due to the number of resources available to them in these habitats. The American Urban Squirrel During the 19th century, cities in America were beginning to grow rapidly due to industrialization and immigration from Europe. These growing urban areas caused an increase in deforestation because trees were being cut down for wood or land was cleared out so that housing could be built. Because of this rapid growth, city landscapers began creating parks throughout these developing cities as a way for people living there to enjoy green spaces without having to venture out of the city limits.   This is where squirrels came into play! Squirrels are natural tree climbers and can be found in forests, so landscapers decided to release eastern grey squirrels into the parks they were creating so the parks would appear more natural. They helped these animals thrive by feeding them different types of foods. Although nobody realized it at the time, releasing gray squirrels into parks had long-term consequences for other areas because their populations started growing exponentially once they got established in cities. This is how the first urban squirrels came about - through a combination of deforestation and people's desire to have green spaces in their cities. Squirrel populations can be found all over the world because they are able to adapt to different habitats with ease.   Boom of 19th Century Urban Parks In the early 19th century, squirrels were not as commonly seen in cities and were mostly just in the woods located outside of the cities. This all changed when Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux designed and built Central Park in 1857. They had a vision for this park to be like a refuge from the busy streets of New York City where people could venture into nature without leaving their city limits. The boom of urban parks in the 19th century led to squirrels being successfully introduced into cities. The planner's reason for their introduction was to "have things of beauty in the city". This created opportunities for people to experience nature and all that came with it without having to go very far out of their daily routine. The idea is that nature inside cities keeps people sane and healthier which therefore makes them more productive citizens. It was also a way for cities to attract people with this "natural beauty". These creatures were soon found in parks all across North America. The people loved them and conservationists see people's act of feeding squirrels as a way to "help humans learn to treat animals better". Since then, their population has continued growing exponentially. The parks became an extremely popular place where visitors could come and enjoy trees, flowers, and other green spaces. The squirrels were also among these attractions because people loved seeing them run around or climb up the trunks of trees. From Favorites to Pests By the early 20th century though, squirrels are starting to be seen as nuisance animals. Their population has grown to such a high number that they're starting to cause problems for the residents of the city. They were seen as a menace for invading attics and garages, knocking down bird feeders, stealing food, and much more. This is where the opinions of squirrels in cities began to change and they were seen as pests animals rather than cute creatures that people enjoyed watching throughout their daily lives. By the end of the 20th century, it became almost a sin to feed them as it's considered to be rewarding the squirrels for being pests and encouraging their destructive behavior - a very different treatment than what they were receiving just a few decades earlier. Squirrels are still common inhabitants of cities in the US and you can often see them running around parks or sidewalks. Now, though, they are viewed more as troublesome creatures than anything else. The Urban Squirrel Today Today, the Eastern gray squirrel is most common to be found in parks and backyards within North America. They are known for their bushy tails which help them steer through trees when they're running away from people or dogs. These little creatures have adapted into living with people: moving into attics of homes, getting into birdfeeders to grab a quick snack, and running around the trees in your back yard. They are so common that they can be seen chasing other squirrels around, fighting for food, and chasing people and pets! These creatures are so comfortable with humans that they will try to snatch food right out of your hand. Squirrels thrive in cities because of human development and our waste management systems which provide them with an abundance of foods to eat including nuts, seeds, and our garbage. They live in nests that they build up high on the tree branches or inside of a structure such as your attic! For squirrels in attic problems, call AAAC Wildlife Removal today. Conclusion As you can see, the history of squirrels in cities has been quite a roller coaster ride! From being brought to city parks by urban planners who wanted them around during people's daily lives and giving nature an accessible form for everyone without having to venture far outside their homes; to being pest creatures that are causing major problems due to their population growing exponentially; to even now still being seen as pests but also very common creatures that you can see multiple times per day in the city. Squirrels have been an integral part of this continent's ecosystems since around fifty million years ago! Their ancestors developed new abilities that helped them live and reproduce successfully in their environment which has allowed for their population to flourish so much today! Now, squirrels come in all shapes and sizes - from big squirrels like oriental giant squirrels to tiny cute ones like the neotropical pygmy squirrel to flying squirrels, the squirrel family has it covered. Squirrels have continued evolving into what we know today as creatures that don't fear humans at all which has allowed them to thrive among cities full of life. While you might consider them pests due to the damage they cause, these little guys are necessary parts of nature's ecosystem who help maintain balance within environments through seed dispersion. Originally published on https://aaacwildliferemoval.com/blog/squirrels/where-did-squirrels-originate

• Brian Moss (President)
• AAAC Wildlife Removal

11/28/2022

Total words : 1650

Squirrels come from the family of rodents known as Sciuridae. They are small to medium-sized animals with furry tails, large eyes, and round noses. Along with them, marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and flying squirrels also fall under this category. While we've heard of squirrels all our life, they may still be confused as other rodents, especially those within their family. So, what does a squirrel look like? What are the features of squirrels? There are more than 200 species of squirrels, making them one of the most widespread rodents in the world. While they come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, they all share certain physical characteristics. Size and shape Squirrels are small animals ranging from 9 to 11 inches long (not counting their tails) and weighing between 6 and 8 ounces. Their bodies are rather slender, and they have a long tail often used as a balancing mechanism when climbing trees or jumping from branch to branch. They have relatively long legs, which helps them to be excellent climbers. Color Squirrels come in various colors, including black, gray, red, and white. The most common type of squirrel in North America is the gray squirrel, which is grayish-brown in color. Red squirrels are, as their name suggests, red. They are most commonly found in the eastern United States and Canada. Other than that, there are also white squirrels. They are very rare and primarily found in the albino form. Tail One of the most distinctive features of a squirrel is its tail. Squirrels use their tails for balance when they are climbing or jumping. They also use their tails to wrap around themselves to keep warm in cold weather. Squirrels have furry tails that are typically about as long as their bodies. But, this depends on the type of species. The tail is usually black or dark brown with a white or light-colored stripe down the center. Behavior Squirrels are known for their cheek pouches that conceal food. They will stuff their cheek pouches full of nuts, seeds, and berries when foraging for food. Then, they will take the food back to their nests or dens to eat later. Another interesting behavior of squirrels is that they are known to "cache" or hide their food. They will bury nuts and other food in the ground to eat later. This behavior helps them to survive during times when food is scarce. Squirrels are diurnal, usually spotted in the early morning and late afternoon. They are excellent climbers and often build their nests in trees. Squirrels are also known for their playful behavior. They often chase each other around and play perky games like tag. This playfulness is thought to help them stay agile and quick. Baby Squirrels Baby squirrels, or "kits," are born blind and deaf. They are also very small, typically weighing less than an ounce at birth. During the first few weeks of their lives, baby squirrels will stay in their nest, where they will be cared for by their mother. They have a thin tail at birth, but it will begin to grow and fill out within a few weeks, along with the whole body. Baby squirrels are born with closed eyes and will not open until they are about six weeks old. As they grow older, baby squirrels will begin to explore their surroundings and play with other young squirrels. They will be fully developed at around three months old and leave the nest to live independently. The Common Squirrels And What They Look Like You might see squirrels leaping from tree to tree. While most squirrels generally exhibit these characteristics, they are not the same species. You might stumble on grey squirrels often. But, there are five commonly existing species of squirrels in North America. Let's get into them in detail. Ground Squirrel As their name suggests, ground squirrels live on the ground. They do not climb trees like other squirrels. Instead, they will dig extensive underground tunnel systems where they live and raise their young. Ground squirrels are some of the largest tree squirrels, with bodies up to 18 inches long. They have short tails and small ears, usually brown or gray, with a light-colored stripe running down their backs. Some ground squirrels also have white patches on their bellies. Ground squirrels are primarily found in the western United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. Flying Squirrel Unlike others from the Sciuridae family, flying squirrels are nocturnal. They have furry membrane wings stretching from their front to back legs. These animals glide through the air from one tree to another. When they are at rest, flying squirrels look like other squirrels. But, when they spread their wings, you get to distinguish them clearly! The Northern flying squirrel is the most common type of flying squirrel, with a white line running down its back. The Southern flying squirrel, on the other hand, does not have this stripe. Flying squirrels are found in North American, European, and Asian forests. Flying squirrels are small, with bodies that are only about 9 inches long. They are brown or gray with a light-colored belly. They have bushy tails and large eyes that help them to see at night. Tree Squirrels As their name suggests, tree squirrels live in trees. They are excellent climbers and often build their nests in the branches. Tree squirrels are some of the most common squirrels in North America. There are three main types of tree squirrels: red, fox, and gray. Gray Squirrel Gray squirrels are medium-sized species that climb trees. They are usually grey with white bellies, but some can also look brownish. Both male and female squirrels have long bodies and look similar, with adult gray squirrels averaging 15 to 20 inches.  Each strand of a gray squirrel's hair can be red, black, or white. The mix of these colors makes them appear gray. Examples of gray squirrel species include the Arizona gray squirrel, eastern gray squirrel, and western gray squirrel.  Fox Squirrel The fox squirrel is the largest tree squirrel, with bodies up to 30 inches long. Their color can be as pale as green, dark, and black, with white feet. Fox squirrels obtained the name because their furry tails resemble those of foxes. They are found in the eastern United States, where they live in forests and woodland. Red Squirrels Also called pine squirrels, red squirrels are small, with bodies about 11-14 inches long. They have red fur on their backs and sides and white bellies. The tails of red squirrels are also red and very fluffy. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia forest habitats. Red squirrels are arboreal, meaning they inhabit trees. These squirrels are very territorial and will fiercely defend the area where they live. They are also known to be hoarders, and they will store large quantities of food in their nests.  There are 23 known subspecies of red squirrels. This includes the American red squirrel and the Eurasian red squirrel. Problem and Danger Cause By Squirrel A squirrel infestation can wreak havoc on your property and threaten your health and safety. Squirrels are known to chew through electrical wires, which can cause fires. They also gnaw on wood, insulation, and pipes, which can lead to costly repairs. Squirrels are no different from rats and mice. They often carry diseases transmitted to humans, such as rabies and typhus. They can also bring fleas, ticks, and mites into your home, which can cause itching and irritation. Are squirrels dangerous to humans? Aside from property damage and possible house fires, squirrels have a fair share of diseases they can transmit, similar to other family members. The most common condition linked to squirrels is the bubonic plague. Other diseases include rabies, typhus, and tularemia. These diseases can be deadly to humans if not treated on time. The diseases are spread through bites, scratches, or contact with infected squirrels. It is important to see a doctor if you have been in contact with a squirrel, even if you do not feel sick. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing serious health complications. What does squirrel infestation look like? The first sign of a squirrel infestation is usually the damage they cause. But, this is not sufficient evidence to point out these damages to them. Squirrels will chew through electrical wires, insulation, wood, and pipes. Other signs of a squirrel infestation include: Droppings in your attic, crawl space, or on your property Damaged food packages Chew marks on furniture or wood Noises in your attic or crawl space Nests made of shredded paper, insulation, or twigs If you notice any of these signs, it is important to call a professional squirrel removal service. They can safely remove the squirrels and prevent them from returning. Need Help With Squirrel Infestation? Call Us Today! If you suspect that you have a squirrel problem, it's important to take action right away. The longer you wait, the more damage they will do and the greater the risk to your health and safety. Our team of experienced professionals at AAAC Wildlife Removal will quickly and safely get rid of your squirrel problem. We will also repair any damage they have done and take steps to prevent them from returning. So, don't wait. Call us today! Final Word Squirrels are distinguishable with their furry tails and large eyes. Their furs come in grey, black, red, or white. There are five commonly existing squirrels in North America: red squirrel, grey squirrel, flying squirrel, fox squirrel, and ground squirrel. While these rodents are cute and can only be as big as 20 inches, they are a nuisance to homeowners as they often cause damage, such as chewing through electrical wires and insulation. They can also transmit diseases such as rabies and typhus to humans. A wildlife removal specialist is the best option if you encounter squirrel problems. FAQs What Do Squirrel Nests Look Like? Squirrels build nests like birds. Squirrel nests are usually made of shredded paper, insulation, or twigs. They are typically located in attics, crawl spaces, or trees. What do Squirrel droppings look like Rat and squirrel droppings may look identical, like small, dark pellets. The only difference is that rat feces are spindle-shaped, while squirrel feces can appear clumped, depending on the moisture level. What do squirrels eat? Squirrels are primarily herbivorous animals, meaning their diet consists mainly of plants. The most common food squirrels eat is acorns, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. However, they occasionally eat small insects and bird eggs or nestlings.

• Brian Moss (President)
• AAAC Wildlife Removal

11/28/2022

Total words : 1751