Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger)... This is the largest tree squirrel found in Michigan. They are generally 18" - 27" in length from their nose to the tip of their tail and weight between 1 - 3 pounds. Their colors may vary but are generally a gray / brown with a orange colored underbelly. The Fox Squirrel skull contains 20 teeth which they use to eat an omnivorous diet of nuts, seeds, fungi, fruits, buds, and occasionally insects. They love acorns which are rich in tannins. (Tannins are poisonous to many animals including worms, so this aids in keeping the squirrels free of roundworms and tapeworms.) The Fox Squirrel mates in late winter and then again in midsummer. They have 2 litters a year of 1 - 5 young, (usually 2 or 3 ) The young are born after a gestation period of 44 days in February / March then again in June / August. They are weaned at 2 to 3 months old. This squirrel prefers a more open habitat, spending more time on the ground foraging for food than in the trees.
Gray Squirrel (Scierus Carolinensis)..... The Gray Squirrel is 16" - 20" in length from its nose to the tip of its tail and will weigh between 3/4 - 1 1/2 pounds. Their colors vary but are generally gray or gray with a reddish cast to their coats with a white belly, and solid black. Their skull contains 22 teeth to eat their omnivorous diet of nuts, seeds, fungi, buds, and occasionally insects. Mating occurs in late winter then again in midsummer. The young are born in February / March then again in July / September. They are weaned at 8 - 9 weeks of age, at this time their previously overprotective mother will simply abandon them. In September the young and some adults will go out to establish their own home range in a process called the "Fall Shuffle". (This hame range is usually about 2 1/2 - 5 acres). The life expectancy of the Gray Squirrel is only 11 - 12 months on a average. (Some have lived more than 10 years in the wild but this is extremely rare.)
Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus)..... The Red Squirrel is only 12" - 15" in length from its nose to the tip of its tail, and weighs only 4 - 9 ounces. (slightly larger than a chipmunk.) Their color is a solid reddish brown with a white underbelly. This squirrel is probably the most prominent specie of squirrel and loves to chew holes in roof eaves to gain access to attics and walls where they like to nest. These little squirrels are very vocal and will bark at intruders readily. (This can continue for hours if they are annoyed.) They also chatter to stake out territory and to protect a food cache. (Usually conifer cones which they harvest in great numbers.) The Red Squirrel is extremely noisy during breeding season, (late winter and mid summer) as they chase each other making a call that sounds like the buzz of a cicada. 3 to 7 young are born about a month later in March / May and in August / October. The young are weaned in 7 - 8 weeks and will leave their mothers in about 18 weeks. These squirrels are omnivorous as well, eating a diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, bark, pine seeds or cones, as well as insects, young birds, and mice. (The largest part of their diet is pine seeds however.)
Flying Squirrels..... There are 2 types of flying squirrels found in Michigan. The Northern Flying squirrel and the Southern Flying Squirrel. Both are rarely seen do to their noctornal habits. These squirrels have a flattened tail and a excess web of skin between their front and rear legs which allows them to actually glide, (not fly) from tree to tree. Both have a omnivorous diet consisting of leaves, wood, bark, stems, seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi and insects. These Squrrels are PROTECTED in Michigan and cannot be possessed either living or dead by an individual.
Northern Flying Squirrel ( Glaucomys Sabrinus)..... is about 7" - 9" in length from its nose to the tip of its tail and weighs about 2 1/2 - 5 ounces. These squirrels can be found in the northern 1/2 of the lower peninsula and the entire upper peninsula of Michigan. They inhabit mostly conifers, nesting between 3' - 60' above ground in nests made of twigs and bark, lined with feathers, fur, leaves, and conifer needles. Mating occurs in March - May, having only 1 litter of 2 - 4 young a year. The gestation period is 37 - 42 days in which the young are then born poorly developed with eyes and ears closed, toes fused together, and cylindrical shaped tails. By day 6 their toes will seperate and their eyes and ears will open in 31 days. The young will leave the nest after 40 days and are totally weaned in 2 months. They will remain with their mother for 1 more month before heading out on their own.
Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys Volans).... This squirrel is about 5" - 7" in length from their nose to the tip of their tails and weigh 1 1/2 - 3 ounces. They can be found throughout the entire lower peninsula and the eastern 3/4's of the upper peninsula of Michigan. These squirrels inhabit diverse forests types and can even live in cities and suburbs. Their typical nest site is any natural cavity or old woodpecker hole in a tree. Where the ranges overlap between the 2 specie of flying squirrels, it appears that the Southern Flying Squirrel is out competing his larger relative. Mating occurs twice a year in February/March then again in July/September. Gestation is 40 days in which 2 - 3 young are born. (They are born naked and helpless.) In 2 - 6 days their ears will open. In 7 days some fur will start to develop. At about 24 - 30 days their eyes will open and they will continue to nurse on their mother until about day 65. After this they are weaned and become totally independant by day 120.
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Congrats to the top 3 Cachers
Basshunter46&kat= FTF
Corinikki = 2nd TO FIND
Tobydog 15 = 3rd TO FIND