Sciuridae
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
(American red squirrel)

Image Caption:
Sitting on the shelled remnants that collected after many hours of effort, a red squirrel (tamasciurus hudsonicus) continues to feed on the small cones of northern whitecedar (thuja occidentalis).  To save time, the squirrel transports the cones in clusters of ten to twenty (Riege, 1991, p. 156) before consuming them at its feeding post.  Greater preference for cones of fir, cedar, and pine distinguish red squirrel from their larger cousins, the gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), and help determine distributions of the two species where ranges overlap (Riege, 1991, p. 156).

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Tamaisciurus hudsonicus hudsonicus (American red squirrel) Eating thuja occidentalis
Works Cited:

Riege, D. A.  (1991).  Habitat Specialization and Social Factors in Distribution of Red and Gray Squirrels.  Journal of Mammalogy.  72(1): 152-162.
Image Location: Canada, Quetico Provincial Park
Image Date: 2006AUG27
Image Species: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus hudsonicus

Web Page By Peter Leitheiser
Photograph by Bryan Simon
Updated: 2009OCT28