Sciuridae

Sciurinae Suirrels and Woodchucks

Characterstics of Suborder Sciuromorpha: All have claw like paws and big incisors. some members include the american beaver, nothern flying squirrel, southern flying squirrel, least chipmunk, eastern chipmunk, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, richardson's ground squirrel, franklin's ground squirrel, red squirrel, eastern grauy squirrel, easter fox squirrel, and the woodchuck. Characteristics of Sciurinae: Family Sciuridae, the squirrels, with 278 species and 51 genera, is one of the most diverse and variable families of living mammals. Sciurids can tolerate a variety of environmental conditions and are found from the Arctic to the tropics, including most arid and humid regions. Most sciurids are diurnal, which means they are most active during the day. Squirrels have four large incisor teeth for gnawing, which grow the entire duration of their lives, and an additional eight cheek teeth on each of the upper and lower jaws. Typically, squirrels have bushy tails as long as the body, smooth coats and pointed ears. In some species, the fur coat is coarse and spiny, and in others, the ears have long hairs extending from the points. Most squirrels have cheek pouches for temporary food storage, where their cheeks will enlarge to fit more food during a single scavenge. Arboreal squirrels have double-jointed hind limbs, with four toes and a vestigial thumb that allows them to climb trees quickly. Members of the sciurinae have 5 toes on the hind paw and 4 toes on the forepaw.

Squirrel/woodchuck Classification Breakdown: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Rodentia; Family: Sciuridae; Subfamily: Sciurinae.

Species of Squirrels: Least Chipmunk: Eastern Chipmunk: Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel: Richardson's Ground Squirrel:
 * Size: L- 4-5" T-3-4"
 * Where/how do they live: rocky outcrops, cliffs, roadsides, dry and open coniferous forests. Burrow in ground, occasionally nests in a tree.
 * Diet: omnivore; seeds, fruit, nuts, insects, fungi, buds, flowers, frogs, bird eggs, small snakes, baby birds.
 * How do you identify them: overall brown fur with alternating dark and light stripes from nose to base tail. Long orange brown tail.
 * Tracks: hind paw 2-3 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw with 4 toes. 1 set of 4 tracks. Tracks are rarely seen.
 * Lifespan: 2-4 years.
 * Often runs with it's tail held vertically.
 * Can become tame and even very bole, seeking people for handouts in areas with increased human contact.
 * Size: L- 6-8" T- 3-4"
 * Where/how do they live: desiduous and coniferous forests, forest edges, near stone walls, rock piles or human dwellings. Burrow with several round enterence holes, with several chambers for sleeping, storing food, and wast.Also may make nests in trees. Males and Femals construct and maintain sperate burrows.
 * Diet: Omnivore; seeds, fruit, nuts, insects, fungi, buds, flowers, frogs, baby birds, bird eggs, small snakes.
 * How do you identify them: Overall reddish brown with a single stripe bordered by 2 dark stripes on each side running from nose to rump. Underbelly are pale to white to gray. Reddish brown tail, half the length of body.
 * Tracks: Hind paw 3-4 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw with 4 toes,1 set of 4 tracks. Tracks rarely seen.
 * Lifespan:2-4 years.
 * Does not cause dammage in gardens.
 * Can be very tame and tolerant of people, usually solitary.
 * Size: L-6-8' T- 2-5"
 * Where/how do they live: fields, lawns, pastures, meadows, praries, along roads, cemeteries. Burrow up to 20 feet long and oftern several feet deep.
 * Diet: Omnivore; green plants, seeds, insects, bird eggs, baby mice.
 * How to you identify them: Long narrow brown body with 13 stripes alternating tan and dark brown stripes from nape to base of tail. Small tan spots on the dark stripes. Short round ears. Thin hairy tail, one-third the length of body.
 * Tracks: hind paw 4 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw 2.5 cm long with 4 toes. Tracks usually seen near burrow entrance.
 * Lifespan: 1-3 years.
 * Fast runner, can reach speeds up to 8 miles per hour.
 * Seed lover.
 * Males hibernate before females.
 * Size: L-7-10" T- 2-4"
 * Where/how do they live: Fields, pastures, meadows, praries, along roads. Burrow up to 20 feet long and several feet deep, grass-lined hibernation chamber below the frost line.
 * Diet: Herbivore, insectivore; seeds, green plants, insects.
 * How do you identify them: Gray to tan above with more tan on the sides and belly. Plump body. Male larger than Female
 * Tracks: Hind paw 4-4.5 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw with 4 toes and half the size of hindpaw. Tracks are not very common.
 * Lifespan: 2-6 years.
 * Very large cheeck pouches enable it to carry hundreds of seeds.

Franklin's Ground Squirrel: Red Squirrel: Eastern Gray Squirrel: Eastern Fox Squirrel:
 * Size: L-8-10" T- 5-6"
 * Where/how do they live: Brushy fields, lawns, roadside rest areas, scrubby meadows, praries, cemeteries, campgrounds, picnic areas.
 * Diet: Omnivore; green plants, seeds, berries, insects, small birds and mammals, bird eggs, baby mice, toads, frogs.
 * How do you identify them: Long, narrow brown body with gray head, neck, chest and belly. Black-tipped hair, producing a peppered appearance. Long light gray tail, moderately furred.
 * Tacks: hind paw is 4-4.5 cm longs with 5 toes, forepaw with 4 toes and half the size of hind paw. Tracks are not common.
 * Lifespan: 1-4 years.
 * Friendly squirrel and very accustomed to people.
 * Size: L- 7-9" T- 4-7"
 * Where/how do they live: Coniferous and deciduous forests, suburban and urban yards, parks. Nest made mainly with strips of grapevine bark and dried leaves, in a tree, sometimes burrow.
 * Diet: Omnivore; pine cone seeds and other seeds, nuts, fruit, acorns, corn, mushrooms; baby birds, bird eggs and carrion.
 * How do you identify them: Overall a rust red, with brighter red fur on sides. Bright white belly. Distincive white ring around eyes. Large fluffy red tail with a black tip.
 * Tracks: hind paw 4 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw 2 cm long with 4 toes. Forepaws fall side by side and behind hind prints.
 * Lifespan: 2-5 years.
 * Big attitude and well know for chasing away small mammals.
 * Size: 9-10" T-8-9"
 * Where/how do they live: Woodlands, suburban and urban yards, parks. Leaf nests in summer, hollow with a singel entrance hole.
 * Diet: omnivore; nuts, seeds, fruit, corn, leaf buds, flowers, mushrooms, baby birds, bird eggs, mice.
 * How do you identify them: Overall gray or light brown fur with a white chest and belly. Large, bushy gray tail with silver-tipped hairs. Large bushy gray tail with a reddish brown shine.
 * Tracks: hind paw 5.5 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw 2.5 cm long with 4 toes. Forepaws fall side by side and behind hind prints.
 * Lifespan: 2-5 years.
 * Male and Female live in seperate nests in the summer, but the same nest in the winter.
 * Spends most of it's time in trees.
 * Size: L-10-15" T- 8-13"
 * Where/how do they live: Woodlands, suburban and urban yards, parks. Leaf nests in summer up to 2 feet wide. May build and use up to 6 nests.
 * Diet: Omnivore; nuts, corn, pine cone seeds and other seeds, fruit, mushrooms, bird eggs, baby birds, mice, insects, carrion.
 * How do you identify them: Dark gray fur with yellow and orange hightlights. Bright rusty orange chin, chest and belly. Large fluffy, rusty orange tail.
 * Tracks: hindpaw 7-7.5 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw 4 cm with 4 toes, forepaws fall side by side and behind hind prints.
 * Lifespan: 2-5 years.
 * Males chase one female prior to mating, following her throughout the day.
 * Female will mate with more than one male.

Characteristics Of Woodchucks: Woodchuck: MInnesota Range Map:
 * Size: L-18-28" T- 3-6"
 * Where/how do they live: Fields, pastures, meadows, around homes and other buildings, woodland edges, woodlands. Den, often underneath a building or steps, up to 30 feets long and down to 5 feet deeps.
 * Diet: Herbivore; green vegetation, leaf buds, grasses; especially likes dandelions.
 * How do you identify them: Various shades of red to brown or gray to black. Hair is tipped with gray yellow or black, giving a salt-and-pepper appearance. Wide body with short legs. Dark brown or black feet.
 * Tracks: hindpaw 7.5-9.5 cm long with 5 toes, forepaw with 4 toes is slightly smaller than hind paw; tracks are not common.
 * Lifespan: 2-4 years.
 * Solitary except for mating adn when mother raises her young.
 * Largest member of the squirrel family.
 * The female breeds at 1 year of age.

[] [] [] Mammals of Minnesota Field Guide by Stan Tekiela.

By. Sara Doeden and Grace Sweeter