# American Red Squirrel

*Tamiasciurus hudsonicus*

Red squirrels create 'middens'—massive piles of discarded cone scales that can be several feet deep and are used by generations of the same squirrel family.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Rodentia › Sciuridae › Tamiasciurus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Coniferous and mixed forests, particularly those with spruce, pine, and fir trees.
- **Diet:** Primary consumer of conifer seeds; also eats fungi, acorns, bird eggs, and occasionally tree sap.
- **Range:** Canada, Alaska, Rocky Mountains, Northeastern United States, Appalachian Mountains
- **Size:** 28 to 35 cm in length, weighing approximately 200 to 250 grams.
- **Lifespan:** 2 to 4 years in the wild; up to 10 years in captivity.
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and predation by American martens, hawks, and domestic cats.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless but highly territorial. Observe from a distance as they may 'scold' you with loud chatters. Do not attempt to handle; if bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice to prevent infection.

## About

The American red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) is one of three species of tree squirrel currently classified in the genus Tamiasciurus , known as the pine squirrels (the others are the Douglas squirrel, T. douglasii , and Mearns's squirrel, T. mearnsi ). American red squirrels are also referred to as pine squirrels , North American red squirrels , and chickarees . They are medium-sized (200–250 g) diurnal mammals that defend a year-round exclusive territory. The diet of these tree squirrels is specialized on the...

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/99b02035-79e0-4f35-86fe-9571ad5d88c8
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/46260
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/12126453/medium.jpg (DaPuglet, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.