American Red Squirrel

forest · rodent · pine-lover · territorial

Tiny but mighty. American red squirrels are only about the size of your fist, weighing between 7 and 9 ounces. Despite their small size, they are super bold and will defend their territory against other squirrels no matter the season.

Cone seed expert. These squirrels love to eat seeds from conifer cones, like pine and spruce trees. They're so skilled at finding cones that they often strip entire cones to get to the nutritious seeds inside.

Spread across north. You can find American red squirrels throughout much of the United States and Canada wherever conifer forests grow. They skip the southwest and the Pacific coast, where their squirrel cousins live instead.

Day-time active. Unlike many forest animals that sleep during the day, red squirrels are diurnal, meaning they're awake and busy hunting for food while the sun is up. You might hear their loud chattering calls echoing through the trees.

Year-round home. American red squirrels don't migrate or hibernate. Instead, they stay in the same territory throughout the entire year, defending it with determination and loud vocalizations.