Like most states Colorado is home to a variety of squirrels. We have ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and even some flying squirrels. I have had the opportunity to see many red fox squirrels and a few Abert’s squirrels while on WaltAbout. Squirrels are entertaining fun animals to watch, but they can be a problem with their gnawing destroying plant life and structures. Once this happens people will put poison out to get rid of them, however other wildlife will also die by eating the poison. Biological Magnification can come into play as the poisoned rodents are consumed up the food chain. Although an irritant, squirrels are a very important species of habitat engineers as they help distribute seeds and spores (they forget where they bury them) and are a critical member of the food chain.
There are three kinds of tree squirrels in Colorado. The rusty red fox squirrel, the pine squirrel and the Abert’s squirrel, which has a striking black or salt and pepper gray coat with palatine ear tufts. Abert’s and fox squirrels are about the same size, but the Abert’s has a longer coat making it look larger. The pine squirrels are the smallest of the three and I have not seen to many but I have heard them. Each of these members of the Sciuridae Family live and thrive in somewhat different habitats that is predicated by altitude. I have found that red fox squirrels tend to habitat up to about 6,000 feet, the Abert’s from 7,000 to 9,000 feet and the pine squirrel from 9,000 to the tree line at around 11,000 feet. These squirrels do not hibernate but will remain in their nests for extended periods of time during harsh weather.
The Abert’s Squirrels are found almost exclusively in the ponderosa pines forests and will select one as a host. Abert’s do not hoard food like the pine squirrel who leaves its food in one place and the red fox squirrel that leaves it everywhere when hoarding. The bulk of the Abert’s diet comes from their pine tree host which they feed on year round from the bark to pine cone seeds.
Common as squirrels are it is easy to take them for granted. Living in the foothills gave me a whole new perspective how they play a big part in the balance of nature. The have the ability to run up to 20 miles and hour, can climb up and down trees head first and can jump nearly 10 times their body length. Their vision allows them to see clearly in the brightest of days, which helps them to evade predators as they do what squirrels do during the day.
Squirrels have generally thrived where I live and roam on my WaltAbouts. Seeing the Abert’s has always been a real treat for me, the black ones are absolutely hypnotic with those beautiful eyes and extra bushy coat.
