Where do squirrels spend the winter? Squirrel - fluffy forest tiger Squirrel in winter. How a squirrel prepares for winter

The life of squirrels in nature usually occurs in forests. The animal's main source of nutrition is the seeds of tree species.

That is why the squirrel settles in mixed forests, where it can easily find food for itself. The animal also loves mature coniferous plantations, which are cedar and spruce forests.

Where do squirrels spend the winter? The animals do not leave their habitual places. During the cold season they can also be found in forest areas. However, some of them move closer to humans in the hope of surviving snowstorms and cold weather with his help. These guests from the forest appear in city parks in winter. They do not come to people because of a good life. Lack of food forces them to look for richer places. That is why, during difficult winter times, city parks are more suitable for them than native forest areas.

Nature's barometer

When there is no snow, squirrels are often on the ground. At the same time, they move in jumps. However, when the first signs of bad weather appear, the animal immediately hides in its nest. The squirrel plugs the hole in it and waits out the cold, curled up into a ball. The animal senses the approach of frost very well. They will definitely burst out if the squirrel is not in a hurry to leave its nest in the clear and clear sky during the daytime hours.

How do squirrels winter in extreme cold? Animals almost always hide in their nests, being in a half-asleep state. They leave them only for the feeding period.

Animal nests

How do squirrels winter? For most of the day during the cold period, the animal prefers to stay in tree hollows or in a warm large nest created by it, which is also called a gayn. In this case, the rodent's refuge is located only at high altitudes.

If a squirrel is lucky enough to occupy the hollow of a large tree, then it lines it with soft bedding, for which it uses dry leaves, grass or woody lichens. Animals living in coniferous forests build spherical nests from dry branches. Such a hole is also lined with moss, leaves, wool or grass. The diameter of the spherical nest can be from twenty-five to thirty centimeters. It is located, as a rule, in dense branches or in the forks of branches. At the same time, the distance of the shelter from the ground is about fifteen meters. The squirrel also likes to spend the winter in birdhouses.

Nutrition

What do squirrels eat in winter? The animals take care in advance to survive the cold well. If you visit the forest in the fall, you can see a nimble rodent clutching a bunch of berries or nuts in its teeth. It should be said that animals can easily determine which fruits are suitable for winter harvesting.

Squirrels hide their supplies in deep hollows. This allows them to easily find food for themselves during a hungry period.

In winter, the squirrel happily eats the seeds that it extracts from the cones of coniferous trees. If the year is fruitful, then the animal does not have problems with food, because on many spruce trees you can find entire garlands of cones. Zoological scientists have established that in order to get enough, the animal must gnaw seeds from three hundred and eighty pine or twenty-eight spruce cones. A rodent can cope with each of them in two to three minutes.

How do squirrels winter if there is a bad harvest? During the food shortage, when autumn supplies run out, they feed on spruce buds or thin tree branches.

If, in order to survive the hungry winter, the animals moved to a city park, then a temporary feeding trough can be made for them. It will serve as an ordinary stand. Food poured into it will help the red rodent survive.

For squirrels, it is best to put seeds and a mixture of hazelnuts, walnuts and pine nuts, as well as a small amount of peanuts in the feeder. An integral part of such a menu will be melon, pumpkin, sunflower and watermelon seeds. In this case, the components should not be salted or fried. Nuts should only be placed in the feeder in their shells.

When feeding squirrels in winter, remember that crackers, chips and almonds, everything fried, salted and smoked are poisonous to them.

Reproduction

Squirrels are very prolific animals. During a season, a rodent living in a temperate climate zone can produce two litters. The mating season begins in rodents in February. At this time, many traces of a restless animal appear in the snow. The front paws leave two small dots, and the hind paws leave thin elongated stripes with imprints of tenacious fingers. It is during the mating season that squirrels run a lot, play hide and seek and perform acrobatic jumps. At the same time, one female is courted simultaneously by several males, who show open aggression towards their competitors.

Squirrel (Sciurus) is a mammal from the order of rodents, the squirrel family. This article describes this family.

Squirrel: description and photo

The common squirrel has a long body, a bushy tail and long ears. Squirrel ears are large and elongated, sometimes with tufts at the end. The paws are strong, with strong and sharp claws. Thanks to their strong paws, rodents can climb trees so easily.

An adult squirrel has a large tail, which makes up 2/3 of its entire body and serves as its “rudder” in flight. She catches air currents with it and balances. Squirrels also use their tails to cover themselves when they sleep. When choosing a partner, one of the main criteria is the tail. These animals are very attentive to this part of their body; it is the squirrel’s tail that is an indicator of its health.

The size of an average squirrel is 20-31 cm. Giant squirrels are about 50 cm in size, with the length of the tail being equal to the length of the body. The smallest squirrel, the mouse, has a body length of only 6-7.5 cm.

The squirrel's coat is different in winter and summer, since this animal sheds twice a year. In winter, the fur is fluffy and dense, and in summer it is short and sparse. The color of the squirrel is not the same; it can be dark brown, almost black, red and gray with a white belly. In summer, squirrels are mostly red, and in winter their coats turn bluish-gray.

Red squirrels have brown or olive-red fur. In summer, a black longitudinal stripe appears on their sides, separating the belly and back. The fur on the tummy and around the eyes is light.

Flying squirrels have membranes of skin on the sides of their bodies, between the wrists and ankles, which allow them to glide.

Dwarf squirrels have gray or brown fur on their backs and light fur on their bellies.

Types of squirrels, names and photos

The squirrel family includes 48 genera, which consist of 280 species. Below are some members of the family:

• Common flying squirrel;
• White squirrel;
• Mouse squirrel;
• The common squirrel or wecksha is the only representative of the genus of squirrels on the territory of Russia.

The smallest is the mouse squirrel. Its length is only 6-7.5 cm, while the length of the tail reaches 5 cm.

Where does the squirrel live?

The squirrel is an animal that lives on all continents except Australia, Madagascar, the polar territories, southern South America and northwestern Africa. Squirrels live in Europe from Ireland to Scandinavia, in most of the CIS countries, in Asia Minor, partly in Syria and Iran, and in Northern China. These animals also inhabit North and South America, the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
The squirrel lives in various forests: from northern to tropical. Spends most of its life in trees, excellent at climbing and jumping from branch to branch. Squirrel traces can also be found near bodies of water. These rodents also live close to humans near arable land and in parks.

What do squirrels eat?

Basically, the squirrel feeds on nuts, acorns, and seeds of coniferous trees: spruce, pine, cedar, larch, fir. The animal's diet includes mushrooms and various grains. In addition to plant foods, it can feed on various beetles, frogs, lizards, and bird chicks. When the harvest fails and in early spring, the squirrel eats buds on trees, lichens, berries, the bark of young shoots, rhizomes and herbaceous plants.

Squirrel in winter. How does a squirrel prepare for winter?

When a squirrel prepares for winter, it makes a lot of shelters for its supplies. She collects acorns, nuts and mushrooms, and can hide food in hollows, burrows or dig holes on her own. Many squirrels' winter reserves are stolen by other animals. And squirrels simply forget about some hiding places. The animal helps restore the forest after a fire and increases the number of new trees. It is because of the forgetfulness of squirrels that hidden nuts and seeds germinate and form new plantings. In winter, the squirrel does not sleep, having prepared a supply of food in the fall. During frosts, she sits in her hollow, half asleep. If the frost is mild, the squirrel is active: it can steal the hiding places of mice, chipmunks and nutcrackers, finding prey even under a one and a half meter layer of snow.

Squirrel in spring

Early spring is the most unfavorable time for squirrels, as during this period the animals have practically nothing to eat. The stored seeds are beginning to germinate, but new ones have not yet appeared. Therefore, squirrels can only feed on the buds on trees and gnaw on the bones of animals that died during the winter. Squirrels living near humans often visit bird feeders in the hope of finding seeds and grains there. In the spring, squirrels begin to molt, this happens in mid-late March, and molting ends at the end of May. Also in the spring, squirrels begin mating games.

Reproduction of squirrels

The squirrel chooses a partner only for the mating season, since these animals are more likely to be loners. These rodents are very prolific and can produce up to three litters per season. It all depends on the habitat, population density and amount of food. During the rut, 3 to 6 males gather near the female. They behave aggressively with competitors, scare the enemy by rumbling, give chases, hit branches and fight. When there is only one winner left, fertilization occurs.

The female squirrel builds a separate nest for her young. The nest for future offspring is larger and neater than the home of ordinary squirrels. It is worth noting that she builds several such nests for babies. In case of danger, she carries the cubs from place to place. Squirrel pregnancy lasts from 35 to 38 days. There can be from 1 to 10 cubs.

Baby squirrels are born without hair, blind and weighing 8 grams. Only after 2 weeks do the squirrels’ offspring acquire hairs, and they begin to see hair within a month.

Baby squirrels feed on milk for up to 50 days. After 8-10 weeks they leave the nest and set out on their own. After a year, and sometimes less, the baby squirrels become sexually mature squirrels. Approximately 70-80% of the entire squirrel population consists of young animals.

How long do squirrels live?

The squirrel lives up to a maximum of 12 years, but only in captivity. In the forest, this rodent can live up to 4 years, and even this will be very rare. The enemies of squirrels are martens and owls

It is very important to create the right conditions for keeping squirrels. The squirrel is an active rodent, so you need to purchase a high enclosure about 1 meter high, about 0.5 meters long and wide. The squirrel's house should be placed in a quiet place where there are no drafts. In the enclosure you need to place a nest or birdhouse, several branches on which the squirrel will jump, planks or shelves on which the animal will sit.

For the domestic squirrel to feel good, it should be fed properly. The squirrel's diet should include dried or fresh mushrooms, acorns, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and various insects. The animal also needs cones with seeds, catkins of willow or aspen, and young birch leaves. Under no circumstances should you feed this animal food from your table.

Remember that the domestic squirrel is still the same rodent, so it needs to be given chalk or eggshells to avoid mineral deficiency.

A squirrel can be trained to eat from your hands. Since this animal is adapted to hide excess food, it will take from you as much as you offer.

It is believed that squirrels should not be given peanuts, either raw or fried, and salted seeds are also not good for them.

• Over a one-week period, a squirrel can eat food weighing equal to its own body weight;
• The male squirrel spends more time grooming his coat than the female. The squirrel is considered the purest rodent;
• If it falls from a height of up to 30 meters, the squirrel will not receive any damage. This is due to the structure of the body and the large tail, which serves as a parachute.

Rimma Korovkina
Summary of the conversation “Squirrel in Winter”

Target: Expand children's knowledge about wild animal protein.

Tasks:

Form ideas about the peculiarities of squirrel life in winter. Strengthen the ability to answer questions in complete sentences

of 4-5 words. Strengthen the ability to use adjectives in speech.

To instill in children a caring and caring attitude towards squirrels. Fostering the need for reasonable care for her.

Make children want to take care of them.

Guys, today a package arrived in our group. Let's see what's in it. What did they send us here?

Oh, there are pine cones, nuts, acorns and a note. What does it say?

"Hello guys: girls and boys! Winter holidays are over. So, I invite you all to the winter forest. It's so beautiful here now! I am sending you gifts. See you soon".

Oh, I wonder who gave us the pine cones, nuts, acorns? It is written on the packaging mystery:

"From branch to branch, fast as a ball,

A red-haired circus performer gallops through the forest.

So on the fly he picked a cone,

He jumped onto the trunk and ran into the hollow.”

(Squirrel)

This is who invites us to the forest! Do you want to meet with squirrel?

Then let's go to the forest. Ready? Well, let's go!

"We are walking through the snowdrifts

Through steep snowdrifts.

Raise your leg higher

Make way for others!”

Here we are. (On screen 1 slide: winter forest, music)

Hello, forest, winter forest! You are full of secrets and miracles! How beautiful the forest is in its winter attire. Let's try to find beautiful words to describe the forest. (Children pick up words: mysterious, magical, fabulous)

Where are the forest animals? Look, he's meeting us squirrel. (2 slide).

What is she like? (children's answers).

The squirrel is small, it has a round head with large black eyes and long ears with tassels at the ends. Tassels on ears squirrels grow in winter.

Beautiful, fluffy tail. The tail serves as a rudder when jumping. When jumping or falling, a squirrel can use its tail to change direction. Can jump 4 meters.

Did something happen to her fur? What kind of fur has become squirrels in winter?

That's right, her fur coat is red in summer, and gray in winter, to a bluish tint. In summer the fur is coarse and short, but fluffy and soft in winter.

Animals' coat color changes in winter for camouflage, and it gets thicker.

Wool protein, like all animals, it grows back in winter and becomes very warm and fluffy. Therefore, in cold weather she is not cold in her fur coat. (3 slide)

What does it eat? squirrel in winter(Children list what they remember).

That's right, in nature, squirrels happily eat pine cones, berries, and mushrooms in cold weather. (4 slide).

Look what it is squirrel does(5 slide).

U squirrels She has a very sensitive nose and she can feel where she has made provisions for the winter. Thoughtful animals dig out from under the snow pre-stored mushrooms, nuts, cones and dried berries.

Cones are a favorite winter food protein. With sharp teeth, she deftly cuts off the scales and at the same time constantly twists the cone with her paws. All that remains is a thin rod and a bunch of individual scales. (6 slide).

One squirrel can collect 2 thousand over the summer. mushrooms Mushrooms hang on tree branches. When collecting nuts for the winter, the squirrel hides them in the ground, in hollows. She may forget about the acorns and cones that she hid in the ground, and then a tree grows. This is the benefit of the forest.

Who knows what kind of house a squirrel has? (Hollow).(7 slide).

A squirrel's home is a nest or hollow. Squirrel's nest unusual: made of intertwined branches in the shape of a ball with a side entrance. A bedding of moss, lichen and soft fur will keep it very dry and warm. It happens that squirrels also settle in tree hollows. Winters can be cold, so to keep warm, a few squirrels sleep in the same hollow. They cover the entrance with moss, which creates warmth, and the temperature difference between the street and the house can be 40 degrees. In severe frosts, the animals do not leave their homes.

In order not to starve, squirrels sometimes have to eat thin tree branches. (8 slide).

Squirrel She sent us a treat, and we will treat her too. (9 slide) Squirrels will be happy with fruits and berries, especially in dried form. Pieces of apples, raisins, dried apricots, prunes - all this can be offered to a hungry animal. In the city, squirrels get along with humans easily and trust him so much that they take food from his hands. This restless, playful animal is a real decoration of our parks and forests.

How good is it? in the forest in winter! The air is frosty and fresh, there are big snowdrifts everywhere and lots and lots of snow. He beckons us to play. What about in winter What do children play most often? That's right, snowball fights! Let's relax and play together.

Physical exercise.

"Snowball game"

"One two three four -

You and I made a snowball:

Round, hard, very smooth

And completely, completely unsweetened.

Once - we'll throw it up,

Two - we'll catch

Three – we’ll drop it and break it!”

(Movements are performed in accordance with the text).

Listen! The squirrel got scared of something, it clicks. (Audio recording "The Clattering of a Squirrel",

When in danger, a squirrel makes a piercing sound, warning other relatives of the danger. It was we who played and made noise, shouted and the squirrel was scared.

Let's not scare squirrel, say goodbye to squirrel and return to the group.

Goodbye squirrel! See you!

How do squirrels live in winter?

In winter, the squirrel spends all daylight hours searching for food. Her long body in a reddish-gray coat with white fur on her belly flashes in the branches of the trees. Here and there its round head with large black eyes and long ears with tassels at the ends will appear from behind the trunk. It must be said that squirrels grow tufts on their ears in winter. A beautiful long fluffy tail helps the squirrel deftly jump from tree to tree. It also serves the squirrel as a glider, allowing it to soar while jumping; and like a rudder to control flight; and like a parachute, slowing down the fall. Having such a tail, the squirrel jumps from the tallest trees straight to the ground without harming itself.
A squirrel leaves a clear paw print in the snow. The trail in front of them is small: two dots, both nearby. The squirrel rests on these short front legs, and moves its hind legs far forward and slightly to the sides. The trail from the hind paws is long, elongated, with the imprint of thin fingers.
Separate fingers with sharp, tenacious claws help the squirrel surprisingly quickly and confidently climb steep trunks without falling off the thinnest branches.
The squirrel works with its front paws like it does with its hands: it picks off pine cones, takes nuts, and pulls twigs with buds to its mouth.
Cones are the favorite winter food of squirrels. With sharp teeth, she deftly cuts off the scales and at the same time constantly twists the cone with her paws. The animal's incisor teeth are amazing: they never wear down or become dull. But all her life she gnaws hard nuts, cones, and tree twigs! Cones processed by a squirrel differ from crossbills and woodpeckers in that it gnaws the cone to the ground. All that remains is a thin rod and a bunch of individual scales.
In hungry winters, when there are few cones, the squirrel feeds on bark, spruce buds, and digs up snow in search of food on the ground. The supplies made in the fall help the squirrel survive the harsh times. With the help of an amazingly subtle sense of smell, she finds hidden acorns, nuts, and mushrooms even in deep snow.
The squirrel senses weather changes better than any barometer. It happens that it’s still snowing, but the squirrel has already jumped along the branches, which means that the weather will be good soon. But as soon as the first signs of bad weather appear, the squirrel immediately hides in its nest, plugs the entrance hole and, curled up comfortably in a ball, waits out the bad weather. If the day is clear, the sky is clear, and the squirrel does not leave the nest, then expect severe frost.
The squirrel's nest is unusual: it is made of intertwined twigs in the shape of a ball with a side entrance. A bedding of moss, lichen and soft fur will keep it very dry and warm. It happens that squirrels also settle in tree hollows.
Already in February, squirrels begin their mating season. At this time, they run a lot, make acrobatic jumps, and play hide and seek.
In the city, squirrels get along with humans easily and trust him so much that they take food from his hands. This restless, playful animal is a real decoration of our parks and forests.

Well... anyway, I did some research on where squirrels sleep
So now I’m not ashamed of those who come to my diary for this information

The squirrel family is divided into arboreal, terrestrial and flying squirrels. In Russian, “squirrels” are the name given to arboreal squirrels, while terrestrial ones include, for example, gophers and chipmunks, which live and sleep in burrows dug in the ground. So we will talk about tree squirrels.

Where do they live and sleep? For the answer, we turn to the book "" By Richard W. Thorington, Katie Ferrell, as well as several other sources, links to which are given below.

In most cases, squirrels live and sleep either in nests built on tree branches or in tree hollows (if there are any nearby). In rare cases, it has been observed that tree squirrels, like ground squirrels, live in burrows. In cities and other human settlements, squirrels may make their nest in the attic of a house, in a hollow space under the house, or under a porch.

Squirrels who have made their home in the attic.

Another "attic" squirrels

Nests in trees are usually built at a height of 4.5 meters, in the forks of branches or opposite the trunk. Squirrels take a very thorough approach to housing construction: first they make a base from branches, dry leaves and tightly compacted moss, then they line it inside with moss, wool, bark, grass, feathers and even pillow stuffing. The average nest diameter is 46 cm. Most squirrels have several nests at once. One is the main one, the most carefully built, and several more casually made in order to sleep in them for a short time in the middle of the day in between searches for food, or to hide from a predator when the main nest is far away.

Squirrel nest on a tree

Another nest in the tree

If it is possible to build a nest in a hollow, squirrels will prefer it, since it is easier to hide from predators and raise children in a hollow. Squirrels sleep at night and also in the middle of the day. In summer they are most active several hours after dawn and several hours before sunset, and in winter - in the first half of the day. In the dark, they almost never leave the nest. In bad weather (storm, extreme cold) they may not leave their homes for several days. There have been cases of squirrels building nests in cars, under porches, and in outdoor grills.

It happens that squirrels become comfortable in abandoned bird nests and birdhouses with a wide entrance.

In the birdhouse

And sometimes they can go to sleep right in your hammock