Since American naturalist Christy Hargrove proposed celebrating Squirrel Day every January 21 in 2001Every year this day is commemorated in recognition of the special characteristics of this rodent mammal, of which more than 200 species are recognized and distributed throughout almost the entire planet.
In addition to their peculiar and friendly appearance, squirrels play an essential role in the ecosystem as supervisors of certain pests, without neglecting the role they play in the maintenance and growth of forests, because they usually carry all kinds of seeds that, if not When consumed, they germinate naturally, promoting biodiversity in the areas in which they live.
Today, January 21, is the day World Squirrel Day 2025. A date that reminds that this small animal is part of the ecosystem of the forests and mountains in which it lives. And its conservation is important because of the role it plays in it.
The best known rodents include the squirrels. They belong to the family Sciuridae. And they are characterized by a very special tail and extremely agile and fast. There are more than 200 species of 3 species: arboreal, terrestrial and flying. These animals are present in virtually every ecosystem with vegetation. With the exception of the Australian and Antarctic continents.
Food thieves
One of the most famous features of the squirrels is that they are very good at stealing other people’s food. They spend much of the day stealing food from other squirrels or birds, a behavior known as kleptoparasitism. Their favorite food is nuts (peanuts, walnuts or hazelnuts), but they are actually omnivores.
So it is not uncommon to see them consuming bird eggs, insects and even small reptiles or amphibians. To search for food, they rely on memory, smell and vision to determine where in the field they are most likely to find food. And like other rodents, squirrels they cannot vomit or burp.
Different sizes of the squirrel
The kind squirrel smaller is the squirrel African pygmy (Myosciurus pumilio), which is between 7 and 13 centimeters long. At the other extreme is the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), which can grow to almost a meter in length, making it the largest squirrel in the world.
Continuous growth of squirrel teeth
Las squirrels They have four special front teeth that grow almost 15 centimeters every year. This prevents their incisors from becoming worn down from the incessant nibbling they do on nuts and other foods. This is a characteristic it shares with other rodents.
Double jointed hind legs of the squirrel
Their hind legs are double jointed, which makes it easier for them to move between trees and jump from branch to branch. Regardless of severity, your ankles can rotate up to 180 degrees. This mechanism allows them to move and climb with the agility that characterizes them.
Versatile tail
Its tail is large and very hairy. With this tool, these rodents can protect themselves against rain and in winter also against cold and snow. Their powerful hiding capacity allows them to better maintain their body temperature. It also intervenes when it comes to maintaining balance. And depending on the way you move it, it serves as a communication element with other fellow humans.
Squirrel learning ability
Among rodents, squirrels They are among those who learn new skills the fastest. Several studies have shown that they can adapt their behavior to perform a given task more efficiently.
Cheating squirrels
Squirrels are extremely skilled at deceiving other animals in nature. When she has food and feels watched, she usually digs a hole and pretends to hide her treasure there. But in reality he keeps the food in his mouth and as soon as the ‘enemy’ no longer pays attention to it, he takes it to another hiding place.
Squirrels: a phenomenal vision
Their gestation period is 29 to 65 days, during which the mother nurses and cares for the young in her den. Depending on the species, this can be in hollow trees or on the ground. Like most mammals, they are born blind. But over time the squirrels They manage to obtain very clear focal peripheral vision. And their field of vision allows them to look up and to the side without having to move their heads.