A Squirrels Life

By, Sara the Squirrel

Chip the Chipmunk for being my best friend

Sara the Squirrel5677 S. Strawberry Tree Way

Montane Life ZoneCO, 5433

Age: 2

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sings from Ms. Jones.

Food: Nuts, acorns, peanuts, berries, strawberries, apples, raspberries,

blueberries, breadTime of year: Spring (All the Food!)

Vacation Spot: A nut tree, with millions of nuts!

Welcome, Readers!My squirrel life is easy. All you need is berries and nuts,

more berries and more nuts! Squirrels possess an elated description, superior family life, unique protection, my incredible food, and my habitat are all part of my very important life.

Last year, in my tree I am

consuming nuts! My best

friend Chip took this picture.

My cartoon drawing of acorns that I consume. Yummy!!

My signature is my paw print. Smart! Right?

I’m Beautiful!I comprise of many different characteristics of my description. In the

summer my wonderful fur is short, soft, and lightweight. In the cold winter, my fur is thick and soft, and my undercoat encloses guard hairs that cover it, that shed water and snow. My feet comprise of fur in winter, and it keeps me warm and grips tree branches. Some people believe I can predict the weather by my tail, and I guess I can, but I never tried it. Our coat colors change wherever I reside, and I molt or shed twice a year, normally in spring and fall. The autumn shed starts in October and by the time the weather is cold, I in contain a warm winter coat. Squirrel’s tails are thin, and I sometimes fold it over my back for extra body heat. Humans need blankets; all I need is my tail! I also use my tail for my face as a blanket. My eyes are dark, and are on the side of my head, and my sharp eyes observe my food, predators, my house in the dim light, and far distances away. I view everything farther than most rodents. Also, I can notice everything and everywhere without moving my head. Squirrels ears pick up the smallest sounds. My hind feet are large as a mouse, and they’re strong and have five toes on each foot. The Eastern Grey Tree Squirrels’ sharp curved claw hooks into tree bark, when their climbing, and the front feet are like hands, that have four toes on each hand. On my ‘hands’ the smallest toe is like a thumb, and they also hook onto the tree bark. I possess gnawing teeth called incisors on my upper and lower jaws. They wear down from gnawing, but grow back throughout my life. We posses a space between my molars also called grinding teeth at the back of my jaw that crack nuts with my incisors. An hour a day, I clean myself with my fantabulous tongue (See, I just made up a word it’s a combination of fantastic and fabulous!). When cleaning, I first moisten my paws with my tongue, and wash my face and neck, and then I lick my body fur and hind legs. I hold my tail between my paws and I comb it with my teeth. My whiskers are attached to my long nose under my head that indicate if a tree hole is wide enough for me to travel in.

My beautiful coat is brownish grey, and white.

I try not to boast, but I’m beautiful!! Our tails are thin, but help keep us

warm.

Raising Our FamilyMy family life starts with the males fighting, and

pursuing each other to know who wins the female. We mate in January, after the worst winter weather comes to an end. Babies are born 6 weeks after we mate without fur, and no teeth. Their eyes are closed and they can’t hear anything. Babies are 6 inches long, and weigh half an ounce! After 6 weeks the baby’s eyes start to open, hooray! The Eastern Grey Tree Squirrels have two litters each year, and 3-5 babies in each litter, and they depend on milk for the first week they are alive. The only adult the baby knows is its mother, and no one is allowed in the nest including my father! My mom always looked out for predators as the young would be an easy meal.

My mom and dad are sharing a nest.

My mom gives birth to my two brothers, my sister and I.

I Have It Under Control!When I travel up and down a tree my protection kicks

in. When I travel down a tree, I venture head first and hold my head up in case danger is nearby. When climbing up, my head is the first for to spot danger. My hind legs are powerful, and I can leap from branch to branch, and my hind legs and fore-feet climb alternately. I use my tail for balance.

Phew! I’m hiding on this tree from a

predator, called Willow the weasel.

She is so nasty!!

I hope the coast is clear to escape to the park for some nuts!

A sketch of my main predator in the neighborhood, a weasel. Remember STAY AWAY FROM HER!

Nuts About Nuts!!My diet is different than yours I bet, with nuts, bread,

and berries. I hide nuts to gobble in the winter, and I dig a hole a inch deep to store them in. The squirrel’s memory lasts no longer than 20 minutes, and we use a fabulous sense of smell to locate the nuts. Nuts are superior source of nutrition, and are easy to store in the winter. To locate my nuts, I use my keen sense of smell. Sometimes I uncover bread and nuts from bird feeders.

Delicious!! Nuts, and Berries

are my favorite food.

My favorite berries are blackberries, raspberries,

blueberries, and strawberries. Yummy!!

Another Eastern Grey Tree squirrel eating a nut. Tasty!

Home Sweet Home!My habitat is a tree with nuts, and a warm nest for me

to sleep in it. The male squirrels have 50 acres of territory, and it sometimes overlaps with a female territory, which is 5-15 acres. I sometimes exist in forests, and I don’t even hibernate, and normally build my summer homes in trees, where a branch forks out form a tree trunk. Squirrels are active throughout the year. When a predator catches a glimpse of the nest the mother moves the nest to a different place. The nests are made out of dried grass, leaves, shredded bark, and twigs, and are sometimes shared with other squirrels. Squirrels build a cover over the nest so it can be comfortable all year.

My home tree is beautiful. My best friend Chip’s house is next to

mine, but it’s not pictured.

Some tree’s that squirrels live in are trees and more

trees!!

The EndSquirrels are fantastic animals with brown and white

coats, the diminutive babies who stop nursing at 6 weeks old, loves berries and nuts, and my tree habitat next to my best friend, Chip. I am ready to explore the world all by myself and take on the hard and long adventure ahead of me, with my best friend, Chip the chipmunk.

Bye!! I can’t believe my

journal has come to an end,

well that is fun!!!

Just Remember: Nuts are delicious!

My best friend, Chip is eating her favorite food: Nuts!!!

Image Locationshttp://i.ehow.com

http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://cdn.wn.com/

http://image.shutterstock.comhttp://www.cheflala.com

http://www.beetlebugs.nethttp://farm4.static.flickr.com

http://www.thesmokiemountains.comhttp://flandrumhill.files.wordpress.com

http://1.bp.blogspot.com

Bibliography

Webliography

Jackson, Tom. Natures Children Squirrels. 1. Danbury, CT: Scholastic, 2008. Print.

Lepthein, Emilie U. A New True Book Squirrels. Chicago, IL: Childrens Press, 1992. Print.

Peck, George. Natures Children Squirrels. Danbury, CT: Grolier, 1986. Print

http://www.crittercontrol.comhttp://wildlife.state.co.ushttp://www.thejump.net