|
Abert's Squirrel
Sciurus aberti
is found in ponderosa or yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) communities
of the Southwest, usually between 1800 and 3000 m, in portions of
Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah in the United
States and in the Sierra Madre Occidental from Northern Sonora and
Chihuahua to southern Durango in Mexico
|
 |
 |
|
Description
Abert's squirrel has long and broad ears that bear pronounced tufts
or tassels in the winter pelage. The tail is short and unusually
broad. The upper parts, including the tail, are mainly gray and the
underparts are white. The lateral line is usually black and distinct
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 1997). The skull is short and broad and
the frontal area is flattened. The rostrum is narrow and laterally
compressed. There are two upper pairs and one lower pair of
premolars. Head and body length ranges from 463 to 584 mm and tail
length from 195 to 255 mm. No major difference in size between males
and females has been noted
Diet
Abert's squirrels are herbivorous. They utilize ponderosa pine
extensively as a source of food during the entire year. The inner
bark, seeds, terminal buds, and staminate flowers of ponderosa pines
are eaten. These squirrels also feed on fleshy fungi, carrion,
bones, and antlers. They do not store food in large caches but have
been reported to bury single pine cones in shallow pits. During the
winter, the inner bark of twigs comprise the staple diet
In captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse
mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat
bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate,
fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy
crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild
insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium
during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those
times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used
to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes
work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire
mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without
extra waste.
Habitat
Sciurus aberti
is found in coniferous forest habitats. All subspecies live in close
association with ponderosa pine, which provides both shelter and
food. Although the species is usually confined to ponderosa forests,
S. aberti
is common in mixed conifer forests in many New Mexican canyons
Special needs
Lots of love and attention, just as if you were bringing home a new
puppy. They need to be mentally and physically stimulated every day.
Tricks and playtime outside the cage can help your pet be well
socialized and happy.
Reproduction
Breeding season of Abert's squirrel is in April or May.
Gestation period usually lasts 40 days. Three or four
young are typically born to each female and there is
often more than one litter each year, especially in the
southern parts of the range. The young are altricial;
they are born naked and their eyes and ears are covered
by membranes. Vibrissae are present on the face and the
toes bear well-developed claws. Young normally weigh 12
g and measure 60 mm at birth. The exact age of
independence in the wild is not known. In captivity, the
young first venture from the nests at about seven weeks,
but it is not until nine weeks of age that they climb to
the ground. Young are weaned at about ten weeks of age
and mature size is not reached at until 15 or 16 weeks.
Juvenile males do not possess definitive scrota. In
adult males, the testes are abdominal during early to
late autumn. The testes begin to descend by February and
are fully descended by mid-March. They remain large
until August then begin to regress again
Back to
Pet Rats, Mice, Gerbils, Jirds, Voles,
Lemmings and other Rodents
Other rodent pages you might be interested in:
Orphaned babies
Tricks you can
teach your pet
|
