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As anyone in suburbia can tell you, it's nearly impossible to cross the street without spotting a squirrel in the grass, up a tree, or in the road. But how much we do actually know about the animals? There are nearly 200 squirrel species living all over the world, excluding Australia. It seems that the only time we really give squirrels a second thought is when they invade our homes and we need to call a specialist for squirrel removal in NJ. But even if it hasn't come to that, squirrels are worth learning more about. FAMILY – Squirrels are actually part of a huge family known as Sciruidae, also making them cousins of prairie dogs, woodchucks, and the flying squirrel! FOOD / HIBERNATION – We all know that squirrels love to ea t nuts but they also feast on tiny insects, tree bark, acorns, leaves, and tree roots. Some squirrels will refuse bark outright, and this is not because they are picky but due to the fact that certain species do not have stomachs that can break down cellulose. Around this time you will notice squirrels gathering up their food and storing it away. This is their way of preparing for winter – they need to make sure they have enough food to last them throughout their hibernation. During hibernation, these animals will exhibit a lower body temperature, slower breathing, and a lower metabolic rate. If you ask any NJ squirrel removal specialist about this, they will explain that hibernation is for the purpose of conserving energy during the cold months when food is limited. LOOK – Based on movie and tv depictions, squirrels are usually portrayed as being brown in color with large, fluffy tails. But the squirrel family has a lot of different looks to it. Some squirrels are much darker, while others have white stripes on their back. The flying squirrel has a stretchy skin called a patagium that helps the animal glide from tree to tree. These critters come in varying sizes too. Some are as small as 10 cm, and others as large as over 70 cm. So what is the one unifying characteristic that all squirrels possess? Big, fat front teeth. Squirrels' incisors grow throughout their entire lives. FUN FACTS – Some other random trivia about squirrels: Much to a NJ squirrel removal specialist's chagrin, squirrels are super clever, tenacious creatures that are notorious for digging in potted plants, taking up shop inside of residential attics, and eating out of bird feeders. the word squirrel means “shadow tail” in Greek. Squirrels are born blind, and when they are babies are referred to as kittens. If a squirrel falls from a height as high as 100 feet, they wont get injured. They will just use their tail as a parachute and depend on it for balance. These animals have five toes on their back feet and four on their front feet. There is much more to learn about squirrels, but this is just some beginning info to give you an idea. If you are curious about these animals, you can always watch the Discovery Channel, check the library, and the internet.
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