in Animals, Mammals, Rodents

Squirrels – African, Indian and Flying

squirrel-eating-nuts image
They scamper to the ground to look for nuts or seeds. They also eat fruit and even eggs or baby birds.

Whether you live in the country or in a downtown apartment, you probably have squirrels living near you. Squirrels can live almost anywhere. There are 200 species of squirrels worldwide. They live in almost every country but Australia.

Squirrel Eating Nuts Image - Science for Kids All About Squirrels
All about squirrels, they scamper to the ground to look for nuts or seeds. They also eat fruit and even eggs or baby birds.

Tree squirrels build nests or live in holes in trees. They scamper to the ground to look for nuts or seeds. They also eat fruit and even eggs or baby birds. Ground squirrels live in burrows under the ground. Sometimes they hibernate.

African Pygmy Squirrel Image
The smallest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel. It is only 5 inches long.

Fun Facts about Squirrels for Kids

  • The smallest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel. It is only 5 inches long, including its tail.
  • The largest squirrel is the Indian giant squirrel, which grows 3 feet long. That’s as big as your little brother!
  • Squirrels’ sharp teeth never stop growing.
  • Flying squirrels have a flap of skin between their front and back legs. This skin helps them glide in the air between tree branches.
  • Squirrels have litters of three to nine babies. The babies are blind. They stay in a burrow or nest until they are three months old.
Indian Giant Squirrel on a Tree Image
The largest squirrel is the Indian giant squirrel, which grows 3 feet long.

Squirrel Vocabulary

  1. Scamper: Run and jump quickly
  2. Hibernate: Deep winter sleep
  3. Burrow: Hole under the ground
  4. Litter: Group of babies
  5. Glide: Move gracefully
Flying Squirrel Spreading its Flap Image
Flying squirrels have a flap of skin between their front and back legs. This skin helps them glide in the air between tree branches.

Learn More All About Squirrels

Watch this amazing video about a squirrel and its nuts:

An investigatory video all about squirrels and how they retrieve their stash of nuts.

Squirrel Q&A

Question: Can squirrels be kept as pets?

Answer: Squirrels aren’t kept as pets. They do come up to people at parks for food.

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Question: Are squirrels dangerous?

Answer: No, but they are wild animals. They will bite or scratch if frightened. Some carry diseases.

 

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