The red squirrel is the smallest tree squirrel in its range. Rust-red to grayish red with a white stomach, its tail is similar to its back in color. Red squirrel have a litter of 3-7 young in early Spring and sometimes a second litter in late summer. The gestation period is 35 days.  Newborns weigh only ¼ ounce (the same as about 7 paperclips) and are 2 ½ inches long!

They can be found in any kind of forest in many regions of the United States, including Alaska, the Rocky Mountain states, and through the Allegheny Mountain range.

Active all year, they feed on pine seeds, leaving piles of cones everywhere. They will hide food in one or more large caches in the ground, a hollow tree, or at the base of a tree.  They will also eat and store acorns, beechnuts, and other nuts, seeds, berries, birds’ eggs, young birds, and mushrooms. They will even eat maple sugar!

The story behind the Photo of the Week:  I am driving around on one of my ‘Looking for Stuff’ journeys last fall.  Heading south from Millbrook Village on Old Mine Road, just passed by Van Campens Glen and pull into the old Miller Farm. The house burned several years ago but there are several small red farm sheds.  I decide, I’ll walk down the old lane to see what I can see!  It’s a clear November day and I am slowly walking down the lane. Besides a periodic wind gust, it is rather quiet and I am not seeing much of anything moving.  I guess it is going to be one of those ‘QUIET SEE NOTHING’ visits!!  BUT, no sooner thought that when the chattering began!  Folks, we are talking noisy!!!  We are also talking I don’t see anything!!  Stopping and now carefully scanning the trees, I catch sight of a squirrel, then another and another!!  They are about 100 feet off the lane and now I am wondering, ‘Am I the one that is upsetting them or is there something else?’  I didn’t see anything else!!  I was also pleased to note these are Red Squirrels, and I don’t think I have any photos of Red Squirrels! What a short fun visit watching these noisy little squirrels chirping to one another!!  I continued on my journey, which gradually got quieter and quieter as I moved away from my little red friends.  The rest of my journey was VERY QUIET with only a quick glimpse of a hawk in a tree, which flew away before I could get a clear photo.  On my return trip, even the red squirrels were silent!!  NOTE:  When you visit my Flickr site, there are several movie clips that will allow you to hear the clammer!!

Please visit my Flickr site for more photos and audio!

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Director Open Space
Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission- Chairman
Allamuchy Historical Society – President