Dear readers, as October, squirrel awareness month, comes to a close, so does the Squirrel Series. This week’s article has no particular theme. It is simply aims to provide some last minute points of (hopefully) interest. All good things must come to an end. Do not cry, my friends.
They’re just kits, man
Baby squirrels are called kits or kittens. They are born blind and stay with mom for about two-three months.
Basic Vegetarians?
Squirrels eat about a pound of food a week. (Most squirrels weigh about one pound, with the exception of the alpine marmot, which is shown below.) They typically eat fungi, seeds, nuts and fruits, but they will also munch on eggs, small insects, caterpillars, baby birds, and even young snakes.
In 2005, squirrels attacked, killed, and ate a dog in Russia. Witnesses reported seeing the squirrels running off with pieces of the dog’s flesh. Yikes. Note that there were apparently very limited protein sources. No similar instances have been reported since.
Stars of the Show
In the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the squirrels used in the Veruca Salt squirrel scene were trained for eight weeks by animal trainer Steve Vedmore.
Hot Wheels
Though they don’t flex often, squirrels are capable of running 20 mph. Some quick math, that’s a 3 min mile. Pretty impressive, especially considering they’re about 5-6 times smaller than the average human.
Just like that, folks, the squirrel series is over. Though the squirrels may leave the press, they won’t leave our hearts. Readers are strongly encouraged to heighten their appreciation for the campus squirrels. They’re pretty cool guys.
Thanks for reading. peace out.