Wildlife

Arctic Ground (Parka), Red, and
Northern Flying Squirrels

Arctic Ground (Parka) Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii)
Arctic ground squirrels are grizzled buff and gray on their upperparts and buff to rusty on their underparts. Their nose, head, and legs are rusty-buff colored. Arctic ground squirrels have round heads with a blunt nose and low, rounded ears. They have short legs and a tail that is flat and moderately bushy.

These squirrels average 14 to 18 inches in length and adults weigh around 2 pounds. Sometimes confused with the Hoary Marmot, Arctic ground squirrels are smaller and do not have black feet.

Arctic ground squirrels live in well-drained tundra and brushy meadows from sea level to alpine areas. They eat seeds, roots, bulbs, leaves, mushrooms, insects, and bird eggs. Arctic ground squirrels hibernate in sleeping chambers 5 to 8 feet underground from September to May, but may appear in the winter for short periods.

Breeding occurs when the squirrels leave hibernation in May. Young are born June to July and litters range from five to ten naked and blind young. They open their eyes at three weeks, are weaned after a month, and leave their natal burrow after 5 or 6 weeks.

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
Red squirrels are the smallest of the tree squirrels and average 11 to 13 inches in length, including the tail. Red squirrels are rusty-olive colored on the upperparts with a whitish belly. The bushy tail is often a lighter orange or red with light tipped hairs. They are quite conspicuous with noisy chatter from a high tree branch and are usually heard before seen.

Red squirrels live in mixed spruce forests and swamps. They are active throughout the year and do not hibernate. Red squirrels feed on a variety of seeds, nuts, eggs and fungi, and cache conifer cones and nuts for the winter. They nest either in tree cavities or on branches and construct their nests out of leaves, twigs, moss, lichens and bark. Red squirrels also have ground burrows that are used mostly for food storage.

Breeding occurs February through March and again in June to July. The young are born April to May and August to September with litters of three to seven. They are weaned within five weeks but will remain with their mother until almost adult size.

Last updated: March 10, 2011

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