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North American Tree Squirrels
Written with clarity and wit by two top scientists, North American Tree Squirrels illuminates the everyday lives of gray and fox squirrels, the two most dominant types of tree squirrels of the eastern United States.
Drawing on more than twenty years of research, Michael A. Steele and John L. Koprowski detail the behavior, reproduction, diet, physiology, and habitat use of these engaging rodents, as well as their complex interdependent relationships with seed-producing trees. The authors compare and contrast tree squirrels with other members of their family, including ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs. In addition to scientific revelations, the authors describe their fieldwork, from the pitfalls of patrolling forests at night in order to check nest boxes to the challenges of fitting squirrels with radio-tracking collars.
Drawing on more than twenty years of research, Michael A. Steele and John L. Koprowski detail the behavior, reproduction, diet, physiology, and habitat use of these engaging rodents, as well as their complex interdependent relationships with seed-producing trees. The authors compare and contrast tree squirrels with other members of their family, including ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs. In addition to scientific revelations, the authors describe their fieldwork, from the pitfalls of patrolling forests at night in order to check nest boxes to the challenges of fitting squirrels with radio-tracking collars.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 13, 2008
For the past six months, lone squirrels have been clicking and squawking outside my window in order to reclaim their replenishing stocks of dumpster treasure. This noise is worse than previous years, which is why I checked this book out of the library: to interpret the "secret language of squirrels".
As it turns out, translating squirrel vocalizations is not very difficult at all. Here is the vast variety of messages they convey, from Table 9.1 of the book:
Buzz: Startled or distressed.
Kuk: Mild distress.
Quaa: Startled or distressed.
Tooth chatter: Agonistic chases and distress.
Moan: Startled or mild distress.
Scream: Severe distress.
Grunt: Males in mating chases.
High-pitched whine: Females in mating chases.
In other words, when you hear a tree squirrel talkin', it's either in distress, or out to get laid. (Or to avoid getting laid.) Why, just this morning, a squirrel outside my window was "startled or distressed" for nearly five hours straight!
Right. Despite my dim prospects at becoming a "squirrel whisperer", this book put me in another world: hard science pitched in prose for the ordinary reader, without losing any of the difficult bits. And you get loads of cool facts: did you know, for example, that tree squirrels are one of only a handful of mammals (including us) who can see in color? And that may be the key to their survival skills in an urban setting?
And did you know -- this is even better -- that researchers still cannot figure out how squirrels find their buried acorns after the snow melts? Theories about smell and visual memory don't seem to be valid -- or at least they're not proven by experiment. For all we know, squirrels are magic.
My favorite chapter is the one entitled "Reproduction", where the authors admit at first that the "pure and unadulterated chaos" of males chasing females in estrus can be quite difficult to interpret. But yikes: their research found a dichotomy between "active-pursuit males" and "satellite males". The horny active-pursuit males gave up nutrients and energy in order to keep zig-zagging and "grunting" in pursuit of lightning-fast females -- not always successfully. But the "satellite males", who were nonchalantly slow-mo galloping and sniffing peach pits on the periphery, got laid just as often.
Here is how the authors experimented with the "active pursuit" males: "following a breakaway in which the males frantically searched for the lost female, we rolled the ball along the ground, through the middle of the mating chase. Six males quickly pursued the ball until it stopped and settled into the grass. Desperate measures indeed." Thank heavens you can't get killed by a squirrel: sometimes I wondered whether these creative but oddly cruel researchers woulda gotten offed like Treadwell...
This is a wonderful read, for both bio-geek naturalists and those of us who need anti-squirrel earplugs during the early-autumn dumpster dives. Plus: who can turn down a book with a chapter entitled "The Squirrel Body Plan"? You'll never feed them again, but you'll also admire 'em a bit more and watch them closely.
As it turns out, translating squirrel vocalizations is not very difficult at all. Here is the vast variety of messages they convey, from Table 9.1 of the book:
Buzz: Startled or distressed.
Kuk: Mild distress.
Quaa: Startled or distressed.
Tooth chatter: Agonistic chases and distress.
Moan: Startled or mild distress.
Scream: Severe distress.
Grunt: Males in mating chases.
High-pitched whine: Females in mating chases.
In other words, when you hear a tree squirrel talkin', it's either in distress, or out to get laid. (Or to avoid getting laid.) Why, just this morning, a squirrel outside my window was "startled or distressed" for nearly five hours straight!
Right. Despite my dim prospects at becoming a "squirrel whisperer", this book put me in another world: hard science pitched in prose for the ordinary reader, without losing any of the difficult bits. And you get loads of cool facts: did you know, for example, that tree squirrels are one of only a handful of mammals (including us) who can see in color? And that may be the key to their survival skills in an urban setting?
And did you know -- this is even better -- that researchers still cannot figure out how squirrels find their buried acorns after the snow melts? Theories about smell and visual memory don't seem to be valid -- or at least they're not proven by experiment. For all we know, squirrels are magic.
My favorite chapter is the one entitled "Reproduction", where the authors admit at first that the "pure and unadulterated chaos" of males chasing females in estrus can be quite difficult to interpret. But yikes: their research found a dichotomy between "active-pursuit males" and "satellite males". The horny active-pursuit males gave up nutrients and energy in order to keep zig-zagging and "grunting" in pursuit of lightning-fast females -- not always successfully. But the "satellite males", who were nonchalantly slow-mo galloping and sniffing peach pits on the periphery, got laid just as often.
Here is how the authors experimented with the "active pursuit" males: "following a breakaway in which the males frantically searched for the lost female, we rolled the ball along the ground, through the middle of the mating chase. Six males quickly pursued the ball until it stopped and settled into the grass. Desperate measures indeed." Thank heavens you can't get killed by a squirrel: sometimes I wondered whether these creative but oddly cruel researchers woulda gotten offed like Treadwell...
This is a wonderful read, for both bio-geek naturalists and those of us who need anti-squirrel earplugs during the early-autumn dumpster dives. Plus: who can turn down a book with a chapter entitled "The Squirrel Body Plan"? You'll never feed them again, but you'll also admire 'em a bit more and watch them closely.
July 26, 2009
One of the better books about squirrels. It contains interesting information about squirrels' habitats, diets, behavior and reproduction. The book is written conversationally yet contains legitimate results of rigorous field research. It's a must-read for any squirrel lover.
February 2, 2026
This book is an interesting compilation of research on North American tree squirrels, focsed on the grey and fox squirrels. Overall, the book is a bit technical, so not strictly natural history in its more popular form. Chapters 3 - 6 are a bit bogged down with method techniques. The book answers some questions and further defines and raises others.
The book contains a Preface, 10 chapters, an Appedix (An Overview of the Tree Squirrels of North Amercia), a References section, and an Index. There are many black and white photos, some of which are unclear. There are also a few illustrations, tables, and range maps.
Though the book is brief and a bit technical, I recommend it for those interested in the all familiar tree squirrels. I also recommend it for students of animal behavior, animal population ecology, and seed predators.
The book contains a Preface, 10 chapters, an Appedix (An Overview of the Tree Squirrels of North Amercia), a References section, and an Index. There are many black and white photos, some of which are unclear. There are also a few illustrations, tables, and range maps.
Though the book is brief and a bit technical, I recommend it for those interested in the all familiar tree squirrels. I also recommend it for students of animal behavior, animal population ecology, and seed predators.
March 4, 2019
Focusing on just 2 species of squirrel- the Eastern Gray and Fox- I found this to be of more help to me in wanting to apply knowledge to those squirrels I observe around my home (Eastern Greys). Scrupiously referenced and notated, and goes in depth to the studies the authors themselves have participated in and conducted. It really gives you a sense just how much dedication and time field biologists put in to their chosen species, and I greatly admire and respect them.
January 25, 2023
The authors promise to leave the reader in greater awe of squirrels after reading this. Well, this didn't happen to me - but only because it is hardly possible to become more amazed by and in love with these furry animals than I already am.
But it was fascinating to learn more about them from people who apparently are equally enthralled by these rodents, judging from the fact that they dedicate their scholarly careers to studying them.
This is not exactly the non-fiction genre, though not fully a scholarly publication as well, but something combining the features of the two. Some of the chapters (especially in the middle) were less interesting to me because they focused more on the minutiae of how certain findings were obtained. But it got more appealing to a general-public-enthusiast reader like me in the end again.
But it was fascinating to learn more about them from people who apparently are equally enthralled by these rodents, judging from the fact that they dedicate their scholarly careers to studying them.
This is not exactly the non-fiction genre, though not fully a scholarly publication as well, but something combining the features of the two. Some of the chapters (especially in the middle) were less interesting to me because they focused more on the minutiae of how certain findings were obtained. But it got more appealing to a general-public-enthusiast reader like me in the end again.
November 10, 2018
Amazing book for a more in depth look at squirrel behavior. The chapter on diet is particularly impactful
May 7, 2023
I definitely learned some things, but the balance between “explaining how research was done” and “fun squirrel tidbits” was not quite what I had hoped for.
Want to read
February 16, 2026Read before spring time.
June 24, 2015
Yeah, go ahead and laugh about me reading a squirrel book. But it was actually interesting to read about squirrel foraging habits, social interactions, and so forth, as described by scientists who study them. You gain an appreciation for the tenacity and meticulousness required among field researchers out counting, tracking, and feeding squirrels. They even handmade fake acorns to test certain hypotheses!
So, yes, this book was interesting. Not only because it deals with a familiar backyard species but also because you've just gotta smile when picturing a bunch of grad students in the park feeding squirrels for "research."
So, yes, this book was interesting. Not only because it deals with a familiar backyard species but also because you've just gotta smile when picturing a bunch of grad students in the park feeding squirrels for "research."
August 18, 2020
Just a quick jot about this title. If your looking for something that reads like a scientific paper, this is for you. If you want something more endearing, well, then maybe not. Full of info and research with explanations on how tests, studies, obervations, and information was gathered. Just got long winded for my personal taste. Also would have liked more details on each squirrel species. This book focuses on only two despite it's title.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews