The squirrel is more popular and legendary than almost any other animal. Children love making paper squirrels. But squirrels are not as harmless as their cuddly toy counterparts. They have adapted to life in the trees and have to prove themselves against enemies and habitat changes.
What do squirrels eat?
Squirrels love to eat fruits, seeds and nuts. From time to time they eat insects and smaller animals. Even in winter, squirrels do not hibernate and should be fed when it is snowy and icy.
What do squirrels eat?
The rodents feed mainly on fruits and seeds, which are rich in fats and therefore provide energy. In addition to nuts and chestnuts, squirrels collect the fruits of oak, beech, spruce, pine and maple. Flower buds, plant galls and mushrooms also enrich your diet.
Rodents rarely target animal food such as small animals or insects. Squirrels are nest robbers and break into bird nests to steal eggs or young birds. In summer the animals consume around 80 grams of food per day. During the winter months, the daily food ration is around 35 grams. This varied food spectrum ensures that squirrels can reach a weight of 200 to 400 grams.
Squirrels love nuts and seeds
Excursus
Squirrels spread tree and shrub species
Unlike other hibernating animals, squirrels only eat a small amount of winter fat in the fall. Instead, they bury their collected fruits in underground depots. Hundreds of nuts are stored in the hiding places. If there are food shortages, the depot will be used up. But not all hiding places are always found. The buried fruits of trees and bushes begin to germinate.
Building a bird feeder
Draw the outline of the individual components on a wooden board. The floor and back wall parts each measure 27 x 14 centimeters, while the roof measures 22 x 14 centimeters. Since the roof is shorter than the floor, there is a small seating area for the squirrel. The side parts are recorded with a length of 20 centimeters. The panels have a height of 27 centimeters on one side, and the second side is cut to 20 centimeters.
After cutting out, you will have two side parts with a slope so that the rainwater will later flow off the roof. Once you have sawn the individual components to size, sharp corners and edges are processed with sandpaper. Saw a notch on both side walls one centimeter away from the shorter edge. It should not go all the way to the ground so that there is a gap for food to be removed. You can later insert a piece of Plexiglas that has been cut to size into this groove so that you can easily check the filling level of the feeding station.
How to assemble the DIY house:
- Attach hinge in the middle of the back wall
- Screw the base plate to the rear wall
- Attach the side walls so that the long edge is on the back wall
- Attach roof to hinge
- Push the plexiglass into the notches
- Open the roof and fill the feed box
Where to hang?
The DIY feeding station does not have to be hung in the treetop. If the space is too high, regular filling will be difficult. However, it is better to mount the box as high as possible. This means the squirrels are better protected from predators. Hang the house on a low fork of a tree branch so you can easily reach it with a ladder. An easily accessible corner on the balcony also offers the rodents a welcome feeding place.
In the squirrel feeder the food is protected from moisture
What to do if a squirrel is found?
Abandoned young animals are often hypothermic and need to be warmed. If a squirrel is in distress, the nationwide NABU or the Bavarian partner LBV are a first port of call. Various rescue stations such as the Eckernförde protection station offer an emergency call for injured, sick and weak squirrels.
What to do if you find squirrels in need of help:
- Observe animal for some time
- approach carefully
- pick up injured animals with a towel or gloves
- Giving water with a syringe
Tip
Do not act hastily when the young animals appear to be abandoned and monitor the situation closely! Many foundlings are brought back by their mothers.
Interesting facts about the animal
The squirrel belongs to the squirrel family, whose most striking feature is its upright bushy tail. The rodents prefer a habitat with old trees. They live in the forest, which is characterized by conifers and deciduous trees. However, coniferous and mixed forests are among the preferred habitats because the fruits of pine, spruce, etc. stay in the treetops and do not fall to the ground like deciduous trees. High up in the trees, squirrels hardly have to compete against food competitors.
Since the animals have developed into cultural followers, they are often found near people. They live in cities, parks and gardens as long as they can find enough food and a safe place to retreat. The latter is particularly important because squirrels have many natural enemies. They are on the menu of birds of prey and owls or cats and martens.
Facts in brief:
- Mating season: January to February and May to August
- Offspring: about five young per litter
- Body structure: 20 to 25 cm long with a tail of the same length, five fingers and toes with long claws
- Bite: 22 teeth, including regrowing nail teeth, premolars and molars
- Noises: clicking to chirping, shrill or whistling sounds
- Nutrition: Omnivore
- Feces: round individual droppings
fur coloring
The color of the fur is not only determined by genetics. It also depends on environmental influences such as the climate. Red tones with brownish nuances are typical, but black squirrels are increasingly found at higher altitudes. Between these shades there are chocolate brown to gray transitional forms. The rodents are clearly recognizable by their white belly.
The fur color of rodents also changes depending on their distribution area. While squirrels in Eastern Siberia tend to be brown-black, Western European individuals develop dark to light red fur. Color differences can also be seen between summer and winter fur. Coats change in autumn and spring, allowing the animals to adapt to the temperatures. While the summer fur is thinner and redder, the winter fur appears denser and darker with shades of gray.
In addition to these natural color variations, there are also mutations. Due to a spontaneous change in the genetic material, the fur color of the offspring of the domestic squirrel can vary, so that black and white colors can also occur.
These are advantages of dark squirrels:
- Protection: better camouflage from enemies
- Heat: Black absorbs solar radiation
- Isolation: longer and denser fur
Special features
Rodents are predominantly nocturnal. Squirrels are an exception in this group of animals because they look for food during the day and sleep at night. The animals use their bushy tails to warm themselves during the night's rest. This can completely cover a curled up squirrel. But primarily the tail serves as an aid to steering and balancing while moving through the treetops. The rodents also use it to communicate with other members of their species.
Notable is another change that takes place in the transitional times. As the weather gets colder, squirrels develop small tufts of hair on the tips of their ears and on their feet. When the coat changes in spring, the ear brushes and foot hair are shed again.
Reproduction
Squirrel mating season begins at the end of January. If winter persists, courtship shifts to February. It is not uncommon for fights to be observed when the female is not yet ready to mate. Once the females are ready to mate, they release scents to attract males. Wild chases ensue when a male makes advances.
The running away can last for several days until mating occurs. The first young animals of the year are born between March and April. Typically there are two mating seasons per year. If food is scarce at the beginning of the year, the animals refrain from mating. In late summer there are chases again, with the times moving further and further back due to global warming.
Good to know:
- Screams and bites are normal when several males meet a female
- Male do not participate in raising young
- Females defend their offspring against the sire
- Male are inhibited from biting and will withdraw without a fight
Due to global warming, squirrels are throwing up until September. Winter comes much too quickly for the young animals.
Species and distribution areas
The squirrel genus currently includes 29 species, of which the Eurasian squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is widespread in Central Europe. It is the only native species and is therefore also known as the European squirrel.
| Japanese Squirrel | Fox squirrel | American gray squirrel | Caucasian Squirrel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sciurus lis | Sciurus niger | Sciurus carolinensis | Sciurus anomalus |
| Area of distribution | Japan | USA, Mexico | USA, Canada | Caucasus, Asia Minor, Palestine |
| Coloring | red-brown to grayish | light brown-yellowish to dark brown-black | gray | gray with reddish band |
Where do squirrels sleep?
To rest at night, the rodents retreat into tree hollows or into their self-built nest (=Kobel). Squirrels use brushwood to build these spherical retreats. The interior is lined with moss, grass, feathers and leaves to protect the nest from rain and cold.
Since squirrels are very clean animals, they put on several of these goblins. They take a lunch break at regular times in the so-called Schattenkobeln. During the night's rest, one of the numerous sleeping rooms is visited. Shortly before birth, they move to the main colony in order to give birth to their offspring in a clean environment. This nest is sometimes referred to as a nest.
This is what the Kobel looks like:
- Nest diameter from 30 to 50 centimeters
- 15 to 20 centimeters inner diameter
- two loopholes, one of which points downwards
Yes, squirrels build nests!
Hibernation vs. hibernation
Squirrels are active all year round in mild temperatures. When the winter months are very harsh and food becomes increasingly scarce, rodents reduce their activity. They go into hibernation but wake up for a short time every one or two days to eat.
Squirrel in the garden
If you have a garden, you can do something yourself to protect the popular rodents. You can also create a little paradise for squirrels on the balcony with just a few resources. All you need is some lumber, nails and tools, and a little craftsmanship.
Tip
Feeding usually only makes sense in the harsh winter months. However, in some years trees produce less fruit, so year-round feeding is recommended.
Provide water
Squirrels have a hard time finding water sources, especially in sealed urban areas. Puddles rarely form on the straightened asph alt surfaces. Therefore, offer rodents water during hot seasons. A flat bowl placed elevated on a tree stump is sufficient. Maintain cleanliness and change the water regularly. Especially at high temperatures, bacteria multiply rapidly in a damp environment, so that the drinking point quickly becomes a risk of infection.
Providing water is doing squirrels a big favor
Natural planting
Squirrels naturally come to the garden if it offers attractive food sources. Hazelnut bushes magically attract rodents. If your garden has enough space, you can plant some spruce trees or a walnut tree. In late summer the squirrels will harvest the trees. In smaller gardens, berry bushes or low apple trees are ideal. They provide the rodents with a refreshing change.
A balcony for squirrels:
- Flower boxes with local wild herbs
- climbing plants like ivy on the railing
- Buckets and plant benches with fruit and nut bushes on the balcony area
Attract squirrels
On the balcony you can easily attract the animals with nuts. There are special food boxes for squirrels that can be filled with various treats. The more varied the food spectrum is, the better the rodents accept the offer. Offer chestnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts. You can make the dinner plate more attractive with beechnuts, fresh apple and pear pieces and dried bananas. Fat balls or food for wild birds are also popular.
Eichhörnchen - was sie essen und wo sie Möhren verstecken
Squirrels in art
Squirrels have always inspired people's imagination with their bright coloring and bushy tails. While the red fur color reminded some people of the blazing flames of hellfire, others were inspired by the way of life. Squirrels remain a popular subject in art today.
15. Century
In 1470, the Flemish painter Hugo van der Goes created an altarpiece in which a small squirrel balances on the rafters above the Holy Family. The hard-working rodent not only represents the devil, but also represents Christian virtues. In the painting it symbolizes the search for divine truth.
16. Century
During this time, Hans Holbein the Younger created a portrait of Lady Anne Lovell holding a squirrel in her arms. The rodents were considered popular pets at the time, which is why they can also be found in the family coat of arms. It should represent the virtues of hard work and efficiency. But the animal was also associated with the devil, as can be seen in the painting of the Fall of Man by Flemish artist Michiel Coxcie. He painted the devil in the form of a squirrel at Eve's feet.
19. Century
English artists liked to use the squirrel motif in their landscape paintings. Before the American gray squirrel was introduced, there were large populations of squirrels in England. Since then, the gray squirrels, which specialize in deciduous forests, have been displacing the native species.
20. Century
The artist Meret Oppenheim, who can be assigned to surrealism, designed an object called the squirrel in 1969. She replaced the handle of a large beer mug with a bushy tail. This work placed natural elements in a new context. It was a combination of industry and nature that was both repulsive and impressive.
Today
Squirrels are still popular in art today. Because of their gentle appearance, they serve as coloring templates that are colored in kindergarten and elementary school. The charming animals are not only found in coloring pages. They acquire human traits in comics, cartoons and black-and-white clipart, are realized in costumes or immortalized as tattoos on the body. Oak cats are popular decorative elements and are the subject of poems.
In animated films, the different characteristics of animals are exaggerated. Scrat is the squirrel from the film “Ice Age” who faces every danger in the hunt for the coveted acorn. It is considered the ultimate survivor and causes some natural disasters. Hyperactive squirrels are not uncommon in animated films. In the film “Ab durch die Hedge” it is the squirrel Hammy who keeps the other characters on their toes with his excited nature.
More films with squirrels:
- The Little Red Riding Hood Conspiracy
- Full of fun
- Hunting fever
Idioms
Squirrels are popular with young and old because of their appearance. Over time, some sayings have developed that refer to the clever climbing artist.
“The devil is a squirrel”
If you've ever observed a squirrel in nature, you could certainly see the dexterity. The rodents are extremely quick and agile. They can even climb upside down on tree trunks or rough house walls. Even in the Middle Ages, the animals were associated with the devil because of their seemingly supernatural way of life and their bright red coloring.
According to countless legends, the devil likes to appear as a cute squirrel. In this way he can deceive poor sinners unnoticed. These traditions were probably the reason for this saying, which should be understood as a warning. Seemingly harmless situations can have unpleasant twists and turns.
“The squirrel feeds with difficulty”
Squirrels need a lot of patience if they want to get to the seeds of a spruce cone. They sit on a branch and pull the coveted cone towards them with their front paws. It is separated from the branch using the nail teeth. The rodent then carries the captured food in its mouth to a safe branch in order to nibble off the scales individually with its teeth.
The phrase has developed into a popular saying that is used to console oneself over arduous work. At the same time it is funny and encouraging, because a goal can be achieved in many small steps.
Squirrels in mythology and culture
The fur of Russian squirrels is used to make clothing because of its interesting coloring. The skins of the Siberian squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris exalbidus) are particularly popular. It is a subspecies of the European squirrel found in Siberia, whose winter fur has a blue-gray back color with a white belly. In the trade the fur is also called Feh.
Spiritual Meaning
In the past, the squirrel has always had a special symbolic power. The rodent's characteristics and lifestyle have led humanity all over the world to make spiritual associations.
| Figure | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Norse Mythology | Squirrel Ratatöskr | Message carrier at the world tree Yggdrasil |
| Germanic Mythology | Squirrel Ratatosk | sows discord |
| Greek Antiquity | Shadowtail | huge cock as shade |
| Shamanism | spirit animal | Flexibility, balance, vision |
| Dream Interpretation | Rodent | Warning against deceit |
Frequently asked questions
How old do squirrels get?
The age of rodents depends on their living conditions. While the life expectancy of animals in the wild is around three years, squirrels in captivity have a lifespan of seven to ten years.
Can you keep a squirrel as a pet?
Squirrels are not caged animals and cannot be kept in the apartment. They absolutely need to be kept outdoors in a species-appropriate manner. Anyone interested in breeding should only buy a squirrel from approved breeders.
Can squirrels be tamed?
It's not difficult to tame a squirrel. The animals develop a great deal of trust through regular contact with humans, even in nature. However, the rodents are not suitable for petting and cuddling because they can become very bold and injure the skin with claws and teeth.
What is the squirrel called in Bavarian?
The Bavarian term for squirrel is Oachkatzl. This name goes back to a common name for the rodent: the oak cat. A popular term is Oachkatzlschwoaf, which refers to the animal's bushy tail. People who have arrived in Bavaria often have to undergo a tongue-in-cheek language test in which they have to reproduce this word correctly in the local dialect.
Are there flying squirrels?
Squirrels that fly don't exist. However, in the mixed and birch forests between Finland and Siberia there is a species of rodent that can fly up to 80 meters with the help of thin skin membranes. These flying squirrels need an elevated place to jump off. They glide through the air and control their flight by moving their tail and legs.
Can squirrels transmit diseases?
You don't have to worry about infection if you come into contact with an injured or weakened squirrel. The animals do not carry any diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Squirrels often suffer from various ectoparasites such as mites, ticks and fleas. Normally, these parasites do not pass on to humans.
