Abert’s squirrels are found sporadically throughout the Rocky Mountains, from Arizona to Mexico. They are named in honor of Col. John James Abert, an American soldier, and naturalist.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Sciuridae |
| Genus | Sciurus |
| Subgenus | Otosciurus |
| Scientific Name | Sciurus aberti |
Quick Information
| Also known as | Tassel-eared squirrel |
| Description | Size: They reach a total length of around 17.8-22.8 in (45-58 cm), the tail adds another 7.5-9.8 in (19-25 m) Weight: Their average weight is usually 21.9 oz (620 g) Color: Varies between subspecies; usually a grey fur with a white ventral side and a conspicuous rust colored stripe on their back; some subspecies are entirely black |
| Distribution & Subspecies | Sciurus aberti aberti: Northern Arizona S. a. chuscensis: Arizona-New Mexico border S. a. kaibabensis: Kaibab Platue in Arizona S. a. mimus: New Mexico-Colorado border S. a. ferreus: The Rocky Mountains in Central Colorado S. a. navajo: Southeastern Utah S. a. barberi: Northwestern Chihuahua S. a. durangi: Durango S. a. phaeurus: Southern Chihuahua and Durango |
| Habitat | Most abundant in ponderosa pine forests, but may also be seen in mixed forests, especially in New Mexico and Mexico |
| Sounds & Communication | They use a variety of sounds like squeals, screeches, clucks, barks; also communicate through visual means and touch |
| Lifespan | Data regarding life-expectancy in the wild is deficient; a captive individual lived for seven years |
| Diet | Feeds on ponderosa pine tree parts like seeds, cones, buds, fungi, and the inner bark; in areas where this tree is not available, they exhibit similar feeding habits but from different trees |
| Adaptations | Since they spend most of their time on trees, they have a light and agile frame that helps them climb and leap from one branch to another; they shed their thick coat and tasseled ears during summer to keep up with the changing climate |
| Predators | Coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, and northern goshawks prey on these rodents |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Behavior
These squirrels are diurnal, becoming active a little before sunrise, and returning to their nest before sunset, foraging at intervals throughout the day. They build these shelters or nests on dwarf-mistletoe infected twigs in ponderosa pine trees. They are not territorial but remain solitary from late spring to autumn.
Mating & Reproduction
During mating season, which occurs between February and June, male Abert’s squirrels led by a dominant individual ‘chase’ after a female through the forest for hours. Females are promiscuous and copulate with multiple partners. The gestation period is around 43 days, ending with a litter of one to five newborns.
Life-cycle
The babies are about 0.43 oz (12 g) at birth. They are weaned after around 70-76 days and weigh 12.5 oz (355 g) by this time. They reach sexual maturity when they are around 327 days old.
Interesting Facts
- The mule deer takes advantage of the Abert’s squirrel’s arboreal feeding habits; as soon as the latter drops something from high up in the tree, the mule deer waiting at the bottom eats it up.
- Ponderosa pines produce a pungent chemical called terpene to dissuade these rodents from feeding on its parts.
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