What Kind of Squirrel Has Tufted Ears? 
You might wonder if your favorite pet has tufted ears. Here are some details to help you decide. There are four common types of squirrels with tufted ears: Abert’s, Douglas, and Arizona gray. If you are curious about which squirrel is your favorite, check out the article below! You’ll learn all you need to know about these squirrels and why they have such distinctive features. Also, read on for some interesting facts.
Abert’s squirrel
The Abert’s squirrel is a common species of southwestern forest animals, found in pine forests. Its diet includes seeds from mature pine cones, the inner bark of twigs, and the buds, shoots, and antlers of pine trees. In addition to a variety of nuts, the Abert’s squirrel also eats insects, larvae, and bones. Its tufts of tufted ears make it appear as if it is wearing a headband.
Although it is hard to tell the two species apart by color alone, the Abert’s has distinct tufts on its ears. They are also longer than those of other squirrels. While they do not hibernate, these animals do grow long, woolly fur in the winter and their ears may extend 1 to 2 inches over the tops of their ears. Unlike other squirrels, Abert’s have a longer winter coat, and the tufted ears are mostly visible in the winter months.
Western gray squirrel
The Western gray squirrel is the most widely distributed species in North America. They are omnivorous and spend most of their day outdoors foraging, grooming, and breeding. During the breeding season, females spend about three hours per day grooming themselves. They will also scratch at the bark of trees with their hind paws. Because of their strong sense of smell, these creatures are known for their speed, running at up to fourteen miles per hour.
The Western gray squirrel is similar to its Eastern cousin, with tufts on the ears and tail. It has several color phases, the most common being a reddish band down the back. Its tufted ears are black and grow larger during the winter. Its tail hairs are a similar length and colour, and they can grow as long as two inches. Unlike the eastern gray squirrel, tufted ears are a common distinguishing feature.
Arizona gray squirrel
The Arizona gray squirrel has a gray fur and white to cream belly. Its ears have no tufts. Its tail is fluffy and ringed in white. It lives in forests and is mostly found at higher elevations. Its favorite foods are nuts and pine cones. Arizona gray squirrels are also known to be skittish, so keep a distance. If you spot one, it might be a male.
This animal is found throughout the Southwest and the Western United States. It has large ears and a tail and is most often found in oak and pine trees. They may also be found in mixed stands of Douglas fir. These creatures require mature forest habitat in order to thrive. They eat acorns, nuts, seeds, tree buds and berries. The ears are tufted and droopy, and they tend to stand still when they do not want to be seen.
Douglas squirrel
The Douglas squirrel is a native of California, and is often found in the conifer-forested areas. Its distinctive tufted ears are most noticeable during winter, when it is covered in snow. Its color also varies from season to season. In winter, its ears are a little more tufted than they are during the summer. However, regardless of season, these squirrels are still an annoyance to humans.
The Douglas squirrel’s range extends from British Columbia south through western Washington, and in northwestern California and the Sierra Nevada. It is the largest squirrel in the United States and prefers old-growth forests, although it is often found in coniferous forest ecosystems. These squirrels rely on seeds from conifers for their winter diet, and they are often easily spotted by the traces of torn-up cones. Douglas squirrels are known as the mockingbird of squirrels.
Northern flying squirrel
A tufted ear is an indicator of a female Northern flying squirrel. These little squirrels are small and weigh 75-140 grams. Their thick, cinnamon-colored fur is covered in white-tipped, gray-based belly hairs. Their long tails are also covered in white hair. These nocturnal animals are very similar to chipmunks but smaller. The eyes of this species are black and they have tufted ears.
The northern flying squirrel’s tufted ears were first described in the 1930s and were characteristic of this species. They are found in mixed-conifer forests and are dependent on Ponderosa Pine. Kotter MM and Farentinos RC (1984) were among the first to document this fact, but subsequent studies have indicated that the species can survive in other forests and climates. In the United States, however, it has become critically endangered.
What is the scientific name for the tufted ear squirrel?
Answer 1: The scientific name for the tufted ear squirrel is Tamiasciurus douglasii.
Where do tufted ear squirrels live?
Answer 2: Tufted ear squirrels are found in the forests of North America.
What do tufted ear squirrels eat?
Answer 3: Tufted ear squirrels mostly eat seeds nuts and fruits but they will also eat small insects and sometimes even other small animals.
How big are tufted ear squirrels?
Answer 4: Tufted ear squirrels are about 15-20 cm long (excluding the tail) and they weigh around 100-200 grams.
What is the lifespan of a tufted ear squirrel?
Answer 5: In the wild tufted ear squirrels usually live for around 5 years but they can live up to 10 years if they are in captivity.
What is the difference between a tufted ear squirrel and a regular squirrel?
Answer 6: The main difference between a tufted ear squirrel and a regular squirrel is that tufted ear squirrels have as their name suggests tufted ears.
They also tend to be a bit smaller than regular squirrels.
Do tufted ear squirrels hibernate?
Answer 7: Yes tufted ear squirrels do hibernate.
They usually start to hibernate in October and November and they wake up again in March or April.
How many babies do tufted ear squirrels have?
Answer 8: Tufted ear squirrels usually have anywhere from 1-5 babies at a time.
How do tufted ear squirrels communicate?
Answer 9: Tufted ear squirrels communicate through a variety of sounds including chattering barking and whistling.
They also communicate through body language like tailflicking and ear movements.
Are tufted ear squirrels friendly?
Answer 10: It depends.
Tufted ear squirrels can be friendly but they can also be aggressive especially if they feel threatened.
What is the predators of tufted ear squirrels?
Answer 11: Some of the predators of tufted ear squirrels include weasels hawks owls foxes and snakes.
What do tufted ear squirrels use their tails for?
Answer 12: Tufted ear squirrels use their tails for balance communication and thermoregulation.
Can tufted ear squirrels climb trees?
Answer 13: Yes tufted ear squirrels are excellent climbers and they often build their nests in trees.
Do tufted ear squirrels carry disease?
Answer 14: Yes tufted ear squirrels can carry diseases such as rabies and the plague.
What is the conservation status of tufted ear squirrels?
Answer 15: The conservation status of tufted ear squirrels is Least Concern which means that they are not currently threatened with extinction.
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.
