Squirrels belong to the order "Rodentia".  With 1650 species, it is the largest group of living mammels comprising 40% of all present day mammal species including the gopher, ground hog and prairie dog.

Squirrels are the most active in late winter when the mating season begins.  The males will chase a female as well as chase off other suitors.  This ritual of chasing occurs through the trees as top speed while they perform some of the most breathtaking acrobatics imaginable.

The period of gestation varies from 33 days in the smaller species of pine squirrels but up to 60 days for the larger species such as the common gray and fox squirrels.

Squirrels are usually born in the early spring.  The average littler consists of four babies.  This varies with climate and location.  A second litter can occur in mid summer if there is an adequate food supply.

A female squirrel will choose the strongest male during mating season, but is unlikely to breed with that male again.  This is nature's way of reducing inbreeding and to preserve the species.

A baby squirrel weighs approximately one ounce at birth and is about one inch long.  They do not have hair or teeth and are virtually blind for the first six to eight weeks.

In the summer, squirrels are most active two to three hours after sunrise, then they will rest in the afternoon.  Resuming activity again two hours before sunset, the squirrel will retire to its nest well before dark and will rarely leave the nest in the dark.  In the winter, the squirrel will complete its activities between dawn and mid-day and will remain in or around the nest until the next day.

During winter storms, or sever cold, the squirrel may not leave the nest for days, but the tree squirrel does not hibernate.

An adult squirrel normally lives alone but will, in severe cold, share its nest with other squirrels to conserve body heat.  Once the temperature rises, the guests will be on their way.

Squirrels eyes are located high and on each side of their head.  This allows them a wide field of vision without turning their head.

The gray squirrel's diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit.  It will eat bird's eggs, bugs and even an animal carcass if there is no other food source available.

The gray squirrel requires some salt in its diet and may find this salt in the soil along roads where snow and ice may have been.

A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut.

The average adult squirrel needs to eat about a pound of food a week to maintain an active life.

A squirrel will break the shell of a nut with its teeth, then clean the nut by licking it or rubbing on its face before it is buried.  This action applies a scent to the nut which helps the squirrel find it later, even under a foot of snow.

The sweat glands of a tree squirrel are located on their feet, between the foot pads and on their paws between the toes.  When hot or excited a squirrel will leave wet tracks on a dry surface.  This scent is also used to mark the trees in their territory.

When a squirrel senses danger, its first instinct is to stand motionless.  If on the ground it will race to the closest tree or other climbable object to escape.  If it is in a tree, it will circle the trunk with its body pressed tightly to the bark.

The squirrel's erratic path while crossing a road is an attempt to confuse the oncoming vehicle, thereby causing it to change direction.  This is obviously the squirrel's biggest, and often last mistake.

A squirrel's teeth grow continuously.  Their incisors will grow six inches per year but stay short due to the constant wear they receive.

The most common type of squirrel bite is a result of feeding a squirrel by hand.  Never hold the food between your fingers because chances are good you will be bitten.  A squirrel's eyes are always looking for predators and they rarely focus on what they are eating.