Written by Sarah Dugan, Naturalist, Kroening Nature Center
Tree squirrels may be one of our most familiar, and sometimes troublesome, animal neighbors. The squirrels we see in the city are likely one of three species. Eastern gray squirrels and fox squirrels are both well-adapted to city living and are common in yards and parks. Gray squirrels, as their name implies, are usually the grayer of the two, with fox squirrels being redder in color. The smaller American red squirrels are also a common sight, particularly around evergreens. Some squirrels you see might be all black in color. These are not actually a separate species, but a color variation that occurs naturally in both gray and fox squirrel populations. In fact, in Michigan, the majority of gray squirrels are actually black.
Look up in the trees and you might notice a familiar winter sight – squirrel nests, called dreys. Looking like a large clump of leaves stuck in the branches of a tree, these winter shelters are actually very well-built, with layers of leaves and woven twigs and a lining of grass, pine needles or other insulating materials. For extra warmth, squirrels occasionally share their dreys in very cold weather and during the winter breeding season. As warm and dry as the inside of a drey can be, they are vulnerable to predators. Squirrels usually raise their young in more protected nests built in tree cavities, or, more problematically, in the nooks and crannies of buildings, including attics.
Like many animals, and humans, squirrels are busy harvesting the bounty of fall – acorns, nuts, pinecones and even garbage. They are eating, but also storing some of what they find to eat later in the winter. Squirrels use several strategies to hide, protect and access this very important food. Red squirrels tend to cache their food in one area that they then defend from potential thieves. Gray squirrels, on the other hand, tend to bury only one or two nuts at a time, scattering their caches over a large area. Squirrels recover their nuts as much as two months later using a combination of mental maps and a good sense of smell, but they also steal from other squirrels. To protect their scattered caches, squirrels engage in some complex behaviors. Researchers have found that they will bury higher value food in more open, dangerous areas, and even try to fake out their neighbors by pretending to bury a nut in one spot before carrying it someplace else.
Come check out the exhibit at Kroening Nature Center to learn more about squirrels and other city-dwelling animals.
November programs at Kroening Nature Center
Nature Nuts: Storybook Stroll · Wednesdays November 1 and 8, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free for ages 2-8 with an adult (activity #145990 and #145991). Visit the park and enjoy a self-guided nature story walk.
Nature Nuts: Nature Playtime · Wednesdays November 22 and 29, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free for ages 2-8 with an adult (activity #143514 and #143511). Join a naturalist for imaginative play while exploring different themes. Dress to spend time outside.
Bird Watching: Feathered Fridays · Fridays November 10 and 17, 9-10:30 a.m. $2/person for ages 18+ (activity #145836 and #143486). Learn about bird behavior, calls and diets while strolling through different habitats with a naturalist.
Release Day: Animal Detectives · Friday, November 2, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $25/person for ages 6-12 (activity #143534). Learn to be a nature sleuth! Use tools like binoculars and magnifying glasses and look for clues like tracks to find out what’s happening in the park.
Homeschool Day: Winged Wonders · Thursday, November 9, 1-3 p.m. $5/person for ages 5-14 (activity #143505).Find out what makes a bird a bird. Study wings, beaks, feet and nests, then take a walk to see what feathered friends we can find.
Animal Tracking · Saturday, November 18, 10-11:30 a.m. Free for ages 18+ (activity #145995). Join tracker Bill Kass to learn how to identify the signs of animals visiting and living in the park. The program includes classroom instruction and outdoor exploration.
Nature Art: Cornucopias · Saturday, November 18, 11 a.m.-noon. Free for all ages with an adult (activity #143507). Use found and natural materials to craft your own ‘horn of plenty’ for your dining table this year.
Opt Outside: Black Friday Fun · Friday, November 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free for all ages with an adult (activity #143531).Choose to opt outside on Black Friday! Enjoy self-guided nature explorations and a bonfire.
Full Moon Hike · Tuesday, November 28, 6:30-8 p.m. $3/person for ages 8+ with an adult (activity #143502). Join a hike under the full moon then warm up next to a cozy fire.