Species · GBIF taxon 2437282
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicusAlso known as Pine Squirrel, Chickaree, Boomer, Piney Squirrel
American red squirrels are highly energetic, vocal forest dwellers famous for their loud, chattering scoldings directed at intruders. They defend exclusive, year-round territories centered on middens, which are massive piles of accumulated cone scales where they cache their winter food supply. These industrious rodents play a vital role in forest regeneration by dispersing conifer seeds across northern woodlands.
DiurnalVocalForest Dweller
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Conifer Seeds
- Fungi
- Bird Eggs
Predators
- American Marten
- Northern Goshawk
- Red Fox
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, predation, and competition with larger squirrel species
HabitatsConiferous, mixed, and boreal forests
Life span3 to 7 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySciuridae
- SpeciesTamiasciurus hudsonicus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a sharp defensive bite if cornered or handled; observe their energetic antics from a distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses sharp incisors capable of delivering a painful bite if cornered, trapped, or handled.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Small size, reddish-brown summer coat, white belly, and a prominent white ring around the eye.
- What to do
- Never attempt to touch or feed by hand; enjoy their vocal displays from a respectful distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Chatters: Locate them by listening for their long, buzzy trills and rapid, scolding chatters.
- Look for Middens: Search the forest floor for large piles of chewed cone scales, indicating an active territory.
- Keep Distance: Avoid cornering them, as they are fiercely territorial and will aggressively defend their caches.
Predator (c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland · cc-by
Predator (c) Kim, Hyun-tae, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kim, Hyun-tae · cc-by
Close Relative VJAnderson / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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