Sciuridae
Sciurus carolinensis
(eastern gray squirrel)

Image Caption:
A gray squirrel watches an estrous female closely while resting on a tree branch.  Males may follow females for  five days preceding estrous (Koprowski, 1994, p. 3), awaiting their brief moment of copulation when the female becomes behaviorally receptive.  During this time, the female may mate with more than one male (Koprowski, 1994, p. 3).

<<  Squirrel Mating: Pursuit                                                  >>

Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis (Easter Gray Squirrel) Male Pursuing Estrous Female
Works Cited:

Koprowski, J. L.  (1994).  Sciurus carolinensis.  The American Society of Mammalogists Mammalian Species, 480.  (University of Arizona Link).
Image Location: United States, Virginia, Norfolk
Image Date: 2008JUN01
Image Species:  Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis
(EXIF Information is accurate – stamped in UTC).

Web Page and Pictures By Peter Leitheiser
Updated: 2009JUN03