American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

The American Red Squirrel should not be confused with the Eurasian Red Squirrel. The Eurasian Red Squirrel is native to Europe and Great Britain and is currently getting being pushed out of its normal habitat by the invading American Gray Squirrel. It is believed that over the whole of the UK, there are 140,000 Eurasian Red Squirrels left, with most of those being in Scotland. The Eurasian Red Squirrel is simply not able to compete with its larger cousin, who is able to digest more food types and has higher reproduction rates. In North America, however, the red and gray squirrels have a more harmonious balance.

The American Red Squirrel is one of two squirrels in the "pine squirrel" family (genus genus Tamiasciurus) and can be found all over North America. The other pine squirrel, the Douglas Squirrel, is found mainly on the pacific coast of the United States, in the forested areas of Oregon and California. The American Red Squirrel is active primarily during the day. Red Squirrels are larger than chipmunks but smaller than gray squirrels.

Red Squirrels are known as "grainivores," meaning that the primarily survive on eating small seeds. Pine seeds (specifically seeds from White Spruce pine cones) account for up to half of the Red Squirrel's diet, but they will also eat sunflower and bird seeds, flowers, berries, mushrooms and willow leaves. The Red Squirrel will store accumulated pine cones in a central cache (which is will defend vigorously) and as it eats the seeds from cones, the pine cone scales will accumulate below the tree in a pile called a "midden". So if you have ever been walking in the woods and come upon a sudden pile of pine cone scales (these piles can be up to three feet in diameter), look above you. You are likely to spot a Red Squirrel's eating location.

Most red squirrels make their nests out of grass in the branches of spruce trees. There are a few red squirrel species who live in burrows underground. All red squirrels are extremely territorial and will aggressively chase any intruder from their area. For this reason, the competition for territory amongst red squirrels is fierce. Without a territory and the dedicated food sources it provides, the red squirrel cannot survive their first winter. For this reason (along with predation) red squirrels have an extremely high mortality rate. Only 22% of red squirrels survive past their first winter. If the red squirrel can make it that far, then it is likely they will live to be two or three years of age. The oldest a red squirrel can live to be is eight years of age, but this is extremely rare.

American Red Squirrels have a variety of predators to worry about, the fox, hawk and owl being primary among them. For this reason red squirrels are extremely skittish and have evolved lightning fast reflexes.