Squirrel Teeth Never Stop Growing: Much like the Hamster, Squirrels’ teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, which is why they gnaw on everything from tree bark to metal to keep them worn down. I've never seen a squirrel gnaw on anything but this makes sense why we never see their teeth!
They Can Jump Up to 10 Times Their Body Length: Thanks to their strong back legs, squirrels can jump from tree to tree with remarkable precision. Their long tails help them balance and steer midair. One particular squirrel that visits our backyard, rather jump from the fence than crawl down. He looks funny doing it, every time, as if he thinks he's a bird that can fly much like his fellow bird-feeder eaters.
Squirrels Can Swim: While they may not be known for swimming, squirrels are capable swimmers and will dive into water to escape predators or cross rivers. I have yet to see this happen, but I do know that squirrels love to have a small pool of water to drink from, especially on a hot summer day!
Squirrel "Memory" is Impressive: While squirrels may not have perfect memories, they do have a good sense of where they've buried their food. They rely on their sense of smell and spatial memory to find their stash later on. This is a good system to have so they can store away food for the winter, however, their process of burying seeds has allowed many different trees and plants to grow, helping keep the world going!
Their Tails Help Keep Them Warm: A squirrel’s tail isn’t just for balance; it’s also a built-in blanket! When it gets cold, squirrels wrap their bushy tails around themselves like a cozy little blanket to stay warm on chilly nights. I'm sure it makes their nests more comfy for them and their babies as well.
- They Love to "Steal": Squirrels are notorious for taking food from bird feeders, but here’s something interesting—they also engage in “food stealing” behavior to distract other animals. They might run off with one nut in hand, only to hide it and distract other squirrels from the actual stash they have.
- Squirrels were introduced to urban parks on purpose. In the 19th century, U.S. cities released squirrels to “beautify” parks and connect people to nature. This is a good thing to remember, when you feel like a squirrel is being pesty, begging for your food while picnicking :)
What are some interesting squirrel facts you know? Feel free to list them in the comments below.
