Sciuridae
Sciurus carolinensis
(eastern gray squirrel)

Image Caption:
A squirrel pokes its head out of a drey or leaf nest.  As a supplement to tree cavities, squirrel build dreys as additional shelter.  By increasing the number of places to take shelter, dreys allow more squirrels to live in an area with too few tree cavities (Fitzwater & Frank, 1944, p. 161).  Because dreys can be constructed quickly, dreys allow squirrels to move more often when nests become parasite ridden or dirty, and by making dreys, squirrels can make shelters closer to food sources or more central to their territory (Fitzwater & Frank, 1944, p. 161).

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Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis (Easter Gray Squirrel) Peeking out of a Drey (Leaf Nest)
Works Cited:

Fitzwater, Jr., W. D. & Frank, W. J.  (1944).  "Leaf Nests of Gray Squirrel in Connecticut."  Journal of Mammalogy.  25(2): 160-170.
Image Location: United States, Virginia, Norfolk
Image Date: 2008AUG18
Image Species:  Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis
(EXIF Information is accurate – stamped in UTC).

Web Page and Pictures By Peter Leitheiser
Updated: 2009JUL23