American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

This rodent of the Squirrel family is about 32 cm (13“) long and weighs about 200 to 250g (7 to 9 oz.). It is active during the day (diurnal) living mainly in the coniferous forests of Canada, Alaska, the Rocky Mountains and the Northeastern regions of the USA. Because they feed primarily on coniferous seeds they are also called pine squirrels, leading them to spend much time on the ground gathering. The American Red Squirrel does not hibernate. Rather it spends the very cold months in an underground tunnel living of the supplies it has stored. During periods of less severe cold it rests in nests in tree trunk cavities while in summer it prefers open nesting sites. It even breeds in nests of grass located in tree branches.

American Red Squirrels live on their own except when mating. They have exclusive territories, which are about 50m (165ft) in diameter. Sometimes females bequeath parts of territory to their young, which in any case settle usual within 150m (500ft) of their natal territory.