Are Squirrels Mammals? Their Distribution Range and Natural Enemies

Squirrels have fluffy long tails and well-proportioned, agile bodies. Depending on their living environment, the squirrel family is divided into tree squirrels, ground squirrels, rock squirrels, and others. So, where are the “Animal Elf” squirrels distributed? Are they mammals? What are their natural enemies?

I. Where are the “Animal Elf” squirrels distributed?

The squirrel's place of origin is northeastern China, northwestern China, southeastern China, and Europe; except in Oceania, they are distributed throughout the world. Squirrels have a relatively wide distribution range and can be seen throughout the cold temperate forest regions. In China, they are mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of the three northeastern provinces, northeastern Inner Mongolia, northern Hebei and Shanxi, Sichuan, Ningxia and Gansu, Xinjiang, Hunan, Guizhou, and other provinces and regions; abroad, they range from the Russian Far East, Japan, Korea, and northern Mongolia westward all the way to Western Europe. In coniferous forests, squirrels are not abundant every year; their numbers depend on the abundance of coniferous tree seeds in winter, because their food consists mainly of seeds and fruits, with seeds sometimes accounting for more than 97%.

II. Are squirrels mammals?

Squirrels are mammals; they are a family within the order Rodentia of the class Mammalia. Squirrels have a relatively strong reproductive capacity, with 2 to 4 litters a year, a gestation period of just over one month, and 4 to 6 young per litter. The young weigh 7 to 8 grams, are hairless, and are pinkish-red.

III. What are the natural enemies of squirrels?

Although squirrels are a relatively large type of rodent, because they are not at the top of the food chain, they are still threatened by natural enemies. One type is carnivorous birds of prey, such as the sable, the mountain weasel, the yellow-throated marten, the least weasel, the Siberian weasel, and the golden eagle, owl, Steller's sea eagle, and others. The other type is mainly magpies and crows, which target squirrel pups during the breeding season. The former type of natural enemy, in a sense, is beneficial to the healthy reproduction of squirrel populations, because those caught by natural enemies are mostly old, weak, or diseased individuals. The latter type of natural enemy, however, is harmful with no benefit. Not only is the squirrel's image endearing, but more importantly, the squirrel's economic value is widely known. Squirrel fur has long been one of the major wild furs of Heilongjiang Province and was once an important export product earning foreign exchange. Squirrel fur can be made into fur clothing, scarves, and hats, and the tail hair can be used to make paintbrushes and so on. In recent years, due to the reduction of Korean pine forests, the production of Korean pine nuts on which squirrels depend for food has declined, causing squirrel numbers to decrease accordingly. The annual production of squirrel fur is less than 20,000 pelts, while the historical high once reached 185,000 pelts. It can be seen that squirrels have already become scarce, and measures should be taken to strictly protect them.