Gizmo
Gray Squirrel Ambassador
Male
2018
Pet
About Gizmo
Kept as a pet for a year so is unreleasable
Description
The gray squirrel has a long, bushy and white-edged tail, which helps the animal balance while jumping from tree to tree. During the winter months, the prominent ears are usually colored in reddish-brown at the back. This rodent is actually the largest tree squirrel, native to Washington. The animal exhibits white under-parts and a salt-and-pepper to steel gray coloration of its back.
Habitat
Grey squirrels are found in oak woodlands and coniferous forests. They can be found at elevations up to 2,500 meters.
Range
The range of this rodent extends across Pacific region of the western U.S. and northern Mexico, from northern Washington State to northern edges of Baja (California).
Life Span
May live up to 7-8 years.
Prey / Food
The diet of the grey squirrel is characterized by its habitat. Populations in coniferous forests generally consume pinecone seeds, whereas those in hardwood forests eat nuts and acorns. Overall, these rodents favor berries, fungus, bark, sap as well as various insects.
Babies / Nests
Breeding takes place once a year, from December to June. Gestation period lasts for 43 days, yielding 3 – 5 young per litter. The litter size typically depends on female’s age: older females produce larger litters that younger ones.
Native American Folklore
In Native American folklore, Squirrel is most noted for his noisy and aggressive behavior. Squirrel frequently spreads gossip, instigates trouble between animals, or annoys others with his rudeness and bossiness.
But in some stories, he is praised for his industrious food-gathering and courage. Among southeastern tribes, Squirrel is honored as caretaker of the forest. Some Northwest Coast tribes consider Squirrel a messenger who may bring warnings of danger to the people.
The Choctaw tell a story of a time in their history when they suffered a great food shortage and found themselves struggling to survive. Squirrel, known for his quick thinking and resourcefulness, came to their rescue. Using his sharp intellect, Squirrel devised clever ways to find food, leading the people to hidden caches of nuts and berries.
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