How Long Do Eastern Gray Squirrel Offspring Stay With Their Mom
How Long Do Eastern Gray Squirrel Offspring Stay With Their Mom?
The question of how long do Eastern gray squirrel offspring stay with their mother has many different answers, including the season of breeding, the gestation period, and whether the baby is adopted by a relative or not. While the question may seem baffling, it is an essential part of the understanding of this species. Read on to learn more! Listed below are some of the key facts that you should know.
Table of Contents
Breeding season
The breeding season for eastern grey squirrels takes place in two distinct periods throughout the year. The first period occurs from January to February, and the second period begins in June and lasts for about three weeks. During this time, females call continuously in the tree tops, attracting several males who try to determine which is the dominant animal. After identifying the dominant animal, the female runs through the trees and stops once she has found a suitable male to mate with.
Females prefer to live in mature woodland ecosystems with large mast-producing trees. These trees provide ample food for the Eastern gray squirrels, which prefer to live in tree cavities. The species prefers oak-hickory hardwood forests to coniferous forests, as these types of forest provide a greater supply of mast-producing trees. Eastern gray squirrels are also restricted to parts of eastern Canada that do not have a large boreal forest.
Gestation period
The gestation period of an Eastern gray squirrel is around eight to nine months. Once the female squirrel reaches sexual maturity, it is fertile for a second litter. After this period, the female will not have more than one litter per year until she is about two years old. At that point, she will breed two to three times a year. A second litter can be as late as September. During the second gestation period, the female may start building a new nest.
The gray squirrel has two breeding periods, in midsummer and early spring, and its young are typically born between March and April. The gestation period of an Eastern gray squirrel varies, but typically, one to nine babies are born per litter. The young will be dependent on their mother for about two months, and they will stay close to the nest for one month. Gestation period of an Eastern gray squirrel offspring is approximately forty to forty-four weeks.
Relatives
Relatives of eastern gray squirrels often defend territory, which is why the home range of each species is larger during the summer than in the winter. Home ranges are also larger during the summer than in the winter, so the numbers of eastern gray squirrels in a given area are lower. There are two basic types of habitats for gray squirrels: tree dens and nests made of leaves and twigs. Females usually nest alone, especially when pregnant. They are also notoriously aggressive during this time.
The eyes of the young do not open until they are almost five weeks old. The male does not assist in rearing the young, preferring to mate with many females and form family groups that spend the winter in dens. When the females give birth to their offspring, the density of their home ranges tends to decrease. The offspring of eastern gray squirrels will generally grow up to be about nine months old.
Whether a squirrel adopts a relative’s baby
Whether an eastern gray squirrel adopts emaciated babies of a relative is a mystery to many animal lovers. Some studies suggest that the phenomenon is more common in red squirrels, but the truth is more complicated. Many red squirrels adopt orphaned baby birds and will raise them until they grow up. This unusual behavior is fairly common in pack animals, but is much less common in mammals that live alone.
While it is unknown whether an eastern gray squirrel will adopt a relative’s baby, it is believed that females are more nurturing when it comes to family. Female squirrels adopt orphaned babies only if they are genetically close. This behavior is based on the fact that females have limited resources, so they prioritize their closest relatives. During the lactation period, females lose hair from the areas surrounding their nipples, making it easier for babies to latch onto them. Females feed their babies every two to three hours until they are weaned to solid food and ready to leave the nest.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
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