Sciuridae
Sciurus carolinensis
(eastern gray squirrel)

Image Caption:
An intruder gets between this male and his mate, and the male strikes an offensive stance against the intruder, for what is an almost imperceptibly quick squabble.  By whatever means the animals use to score the dispute, the intruder looses and runs away.  It isn't his first attempt, and probably won't be his last.  Mating rights follow a battle of endurance where the intruder and other male squirrels try to wear down the dominant male who seems forced by instinct to trail his female everywhere, call loudly, and shun foraging to continuously announce his claim with tail flicks

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Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis (Easter Gray Squirrel) mating fight
Works Cited:

Steele, M. A. & Koprowski, J. L.  (2001).  North American Tree Squirrels.  Washington and London: Smithsonian.
Image Location: United States, Virginia, Norfolk
Image Date: 2008APR16
Image Species:  Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis
(EXIF Information is accurate – stamped in UTC).

Web Page and Pictures By Peter Leitheiser
Updated: 2009MAY02