Grey Squirrels
Cap'n Jack and Zoe were caught in a hurricane here in North Carolina that damaged them both permanently and made it so that they cannot survive on their own in the wild. Cap'n Jack has neurological damage, which is how he came by his name, and Zoe has a paw that just won't work, making it impossible for her to open her own nuts.
Cap'n Jack is now doing programs and doing VERY well at them! He actually loves being held as long as you hold him close, as you can see Kasha doing below!
Cap'n Jack Squirrel Zoe
Kasha and Cap'n Jack Zoe Post Surgery
In North Carolina, grey squirrels are probably the most encountered of the native species. They are very adaptable animals, living in the country, the forest and even in the city.
As with any native wildlife, it is not legal to keep squirrels in captivity without special permits. It is also not legal to rehabilitate the babies without a rehabilitator's permit issued by the state wildlife commission.
Grey squirrels live mostly in trees, they gather nuts and seeds throughout the year and bury them for later eating. The problem with this is, they forget where they bury 85% of their cash, which is why they are so important to our ecosystem. Because of their forgetfulness, we have many of the trees that surround us. So, while many people consider them a nuisance species, they are actually very important to our own environment.
In The Wild
Classification: |
Family Rodentia, Classification Sciurus carolinensis |
Native Region: |
United States and southern Canada |
Diet: |
Omnivorous. They are considered omnivores because they eat nuts, which are considered to be a meat. |
Behavior: |
Grey squirrels are diurnal, like people are, meaning they are awake mostly during the day |
Social Structure: |
Solitary except during mating season |
Interesting Facts: |
Squirrels are very important to our ecosystem because they plant many of the trees that grow wild in our area. |