Eastern Gray Squirrel: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Small Mammals · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. Black gray squirrels handle cold better: at -10 °C they lose 18 % less heat than gray ones, and their resting energy use is 20 % lower.
2. Five days before she is ready to mate, a female can attract up to 34 males from as far as 500 m away.
3. Baby gray squirrels weigh just 13 to 18 g at birth and reach full adult weight by 8 or 9 months.
4. Since 2016 the eastern gray squirrel is on the EU's invasive species list: it cannot be imported, bred or intentionally released.
5. Many gray squirrels die young, but an adult can typically live to about six, and a few exceptional ones reach 12.

The quiz

1. How much less heat do black squirrels lose at -10 °C?

• 2%
• 50%
• 80%
• 18% (correct)

Black squirrels lose 18% less heat at -10 °C.

2. How many males can a female about to mate attract?

• Up to 3
• Up to 34 (correct)
• Up to 340
• Just one

Five days before she is ready to mate, she can attract up to 34 males.

3. How much does a gray squirrel kit weigh at birth?

• 130-180 g
• 1-2 g
• 13-18 g (correct)
• 300-400 g

Babies weigh just 13 to 18 g at birth.

4. Since which year has the eastern gray squirrel been on the EU's invasive species list?

• 2016 (correct)
• 1996
• 2006
• 2026

It has been on the EU list since 2016.

5. About how long can an adult wild gray squirrel typically live?

• About two months
• About forty years
• About twenty-five years
• About six years (correct)

An adult can typically live to about six, and a few reach 12.

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