Shared Flashcard Set

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2013 Envirothon
Squirrels
27
Environmental Studies
6th Grade
04/30/2013

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Cards

Term
What are the four species of squirrels?
Definition
Gray; red; flying; fox
Term
What helps squirrels balance when jumping?
Definition
large tails
Term
What colors do squirrels see?
Definition
shades of black and white
Term
What do the squirrel's eyes detect well?
Definition
movement
Term
What senses are keen?
Definition
hearing and smell
Term
When are the gray, fox and red squirrels most active?
Definition
early morning and late afternoons
Term
When is the flying squirrel most active?
Definition
night; they are nocturnal
Term
Describe baby squirrels.
Definition
blind; hairless; depend on mother for up to two months
Term
What is mast?
Definition
acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, beechnuts
Term
Gray: weight and length
Definition
1 to 1 and a half pounds and 18 to 20 inches in length
Term
How much of the length of the gray squirrel is its tail?
Definition
half
Term
What colors are most gray squirrels?
Definition
silvery-gray above and off-white below, often with rusty or brown markings on sides or tail
Term
Describe albinism and melanism in gray squirrels.
Definition
Albinism is rare
Melanism (black coloration) is fairly common: once found through most of PA, black squirrels are most in northcentral counties
Term
What colors are black squirrels?
Definition
any shade form dark gray to jet black, most with a brownish tinge
Term
What do gray squirrels eat?
Definition
mast (acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts and beechnuts)
Term
Besides mast, what do gray squirrels eat?
Definition
berries, mushrooms, pine seeds, corn; and dogwood, wild cherry and black gum fruits
Term
How do squirrels help ensure continuous forest growth?
Definition
unrecovered nuts sprout into trees
Term
What do gray squirrels eat in:
~early spring?
~April?
~later?
Definition
early spring: buds, a high energy food
April: buds and flowers of red and sugar maples
later: winged fruits of red maple
Term
Where do gray squirrels get water?
Definition
ground water sources as well as seeds and buds
Term
What kills young squirrels?
Definition
hawks, owls, tree-climbing snakes
Term
Gray squirrels are _____ than fox squirrels.
Definition
quicker
Term
Gray squirrels are less ----- than red squirrels.
Definition
vocal
Term
What do gray squirrels do to warn others?
Definition
bark and assorted "chucks"
Term
What affects squirrel populations?
Definition
food supply
Term
What is maximum life span for a wild squirrel?
Definition
could be ten years or longer, but most live only two to three years
Term
Describe squirrel nests
Definition
leaf nests in trees near good food supplies built in summer and fall; leaf nests are cooler than tree dens; 12 - 16 inches and are made of twigs, leaves, grass, bark
Term
Describe squirrel tree dens
Definition
Tree dens are often in cavities where limbs have broken off or deserted woodpecker holes; usually 40-60 feet off the ground; squirrels gnaw off the outer tree bark that would, in time, seal off the den holes
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