Abert's squirrel (or tassel-eared squirrel) (Sciurus aberti) is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus endemic to the Rocky Mountains from United States to Mexico, with concentrations found in Arizona, The Grand Canyon, New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.

Etymology

The Abert's squirrel is named after Colonel John James Abert, an American naturalist and military officer who headed the Corps of Topographical Engineers and organized the effort to map the American West in the 19th century.

Taxonomy

The currently accepted scientific name for Abert's squirrel is Sciurus aberti Woodhouse ^[3]. There are nine recognized subspecies including the Kaibab Squirrel (S. a. kaibabensis), formerly recognized as a separate species, S. kaibabensis. The nine subspecies are listed in the distribution.^[4][5]

Disitribution

The Abert's squirrel is confined to the Colorado Plateau and the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico; its range extends south in the Sierra Madre Occidental to Chihuahua and Durango in Mexico ^[4]. Abert's squirrel also extends a short distance into Wyoming where ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is present. Abert's squirrels transplanted to the Graham and Santa Catalina mountains of Arizona have established stable populations. Mellott and Choate ^[6] reported Abert's squirrels present in the Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area, 43 miles (72 km) southeast of the previously known Abert's squirrel range.

The distribution of Abert's squirrel subspecies in the Southwest is coincident with the disjunct ponderosa pine forests ^[7]. Subspecies distributions are as follows ^[4]:

• S. a. aberti (Woodhouse) – northern Arizona
• S. a. barberi (Allen) – northwestern Chihuahua
• S. a. chuscensis (Goldman) – New Mexico-Arizona border area
• S. a. durangi (Thomas) – Durango
• S. a. ferreus (True) – Rocky Mountains, central Colorado
• S. a. kaibabensis – Kaibab Plateau, northern Arizona
• S. a. mimus (Merriam) – New Mexico-Colorado border area
• S. a. navajo (Durrant and Kelson) – southeastern Utah
• S. a. phaeurus (Allen) – Durango and extreme southern Chihuahua

Plant communities

Ponderosa pine groove

Ponderosa pine foliage and cones

The Abert's squirrel is closely associated with, and nearly confined to cool, dry interior ponderosa pine forests ^[4]. In Arizona, ponderosa pine forests are most extensive between 5,500 and 8,500 feet (1,676–2,590 m) elevation ^[8]. Abert's squirrels occur in pure ponderosa pine stands or stands with associated Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), true pinyon (P. edulis), junipers (Juniperus spp.), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)^[4]. Findley and others ^[9] mention that Abert's squirrels are common in mixed conifer canyons in New Mexico.

Preferred habitat

Abert's squirrels make almost exclusive use of ponderosa pine for cover, nesting, and food ^[4]. Optimum Abert's squirrel habitat is composed of all-aged ponderosa pine stands with trees in even-aged groups, densities of 168 to 250 trees per acre (496–618/ha), and 150 to 200 square feet per acre (34.4–45.3 sq m/ha) basal area. In optimum habitat average diameter of ponderosa pines is 11 to 13 inches (28–33 cm), with Gambel oaks in the 11.8- to 14-inch (30–36 cm) diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) range ^[10]. Optimum habitat has some ponderosa pine over 20 inches (51 cm) d.b.h., which are the best cone producers ^[11]. Larson and Schubert ^[12] reported that ponderosa pine 36 to 40 inches (91–102 cm) d.b.h. produced an average of 446 cones per tree per crop. Trees less than 24 inches (61 cm) d.b.h. produced less than 100 cones per crop.

In central Arizona, Abert's squirrel summer home ranges averaged 18 acres (7.3 ha) and ranged from 10 to 24 acres (24.7–59.3 ha). Ranges were somewhat smaller in winter ^[4]. Ramey ^[13] reported that the mean Abert's squirrel home range for spring and summer was 20 acres (8.13 ha) in Black Forest County, Colorado. Subadult males had spring home ranges of about 27 acres (11 ha), and adult females had somewhat larger summer home ranges than adult males ^[13]. Patton ^[14] reported the ranges of three squirrels as 10, 30, and 60 acres (4.0, 12.2, and 24.4 ha) in Arizona. Hall ^[15] reported the home range of an adult female as 29 acres (11.8 ha).

In Colorado, Ramey ^[13] found a density of 83 squirrels per square mile (30/km²) in spring 1970 but only 33 squirrels per square mile (12/km²) in spring 1971. In another Colorado study, Farentinos ^[16] estimated 227 squirrels per square mile (82/km²) in fall 1970 and 317 per square mile (114/km²) in fall 1971.

Cover requirements

Summer nests are built by female Abert's squirrels on ponderosa pine branches, in Gambel oak cavities, and sometimes in cottonwood (Populus spp.) branches. Ponderosa pine seldom have cavities big enough for Abert's squirrels. In central Arizona nest trees ranged from 12 to 41 inches d.b.h. and were 20 to 110 feet (33.5 m) tall ^[4]. In another Arizona study, nest trees ranged from 11.6 to 36.6 inches (29.4–93 cm) d.b.h. Most nests are placed in the upper third of the tree crown ^[17]. Nests were placed from 16 to 90 feet (4.9–27) above the ground, usually on a large limb against the bole, or in the forks of smaller branches. Nests were most often built on the southern to southeastern side of the tree ^[4]. Patton ^[7] reported that nest trees in Arizona had crowns that were 35% to 55% of the total tree height, and most often were 14 to 16 inches (36–41 cm) d.b.h. Nests are built in trees occurring as part of a grouping of trees with interlocking crowns ^[7][11]. Dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium vaginatum) infestations that cause the formation of "witches brooms" are often incorporated into or support Abert's squirrel nests ^[18].

In winter, pairs of Abert's squirrels, usually an adult female and one subadult (presumed) offspring, use the same nest for shelter ^[4].

Physical characteristics

Abert's squirrel collecting nesting material

Abert's squirrels are 46–58 cm long with a tail of 19–25 cm. The most noticeable characteristic would be their hair ear tufts, which extend up from each ear 2–3 cm. They typically have a gray coat with a white underbelly and a very noticeable rusty/reddish colored strip down their back.

Timing of major life events

Abert's squirrels are diurnal. They are often active for a short time before sunrise and active for periods throughout the day, and they usually return to shelter before sunset ^[4]. They are used year-round by most Abert's squirrels for nightly shelter ^[17].

Nests are built by the female Abert's squirrel out of pine twigs 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) or less in diameter and 6 to 24 inches (15–61 cm) long. Nests are lined with a variety of materials ^[4]. Nests are roughly spherical and a small platform often extends beyond the bowl edge on one side ^[19]. Females often move the litter to a larger nest when the young are 3 to 6 weeks old ^[4].

In central Arizona, breeding occurs from May 1 to June 1 and there are young in the nest from June 10 to July 27 ^[4]. Farantinos ^[20] reported a 46-day gestation period. Eight litters were composed of two to five young each^[4][20]. Three or four young per liter is typical ^[21]. Young Abert's squirrels are born naked, with ears and eyes closed. At 2 weeks thin short hair is noticeable and the ears are slightly open. By 6 weeks the pelage has developed and the eyes are open. By 7 weeks the tail has broadened and is held over the back, ears are held erect. Mushrooms and bark have been added to the diet at this time. Captive young first venture from the nest at about 7 weeks, but do not venture to the ground until about 9 weeks. By 10 weeks Abert's squirrels are weaned. Mature size is reached by 15 to 16 weeks.^[4] Female Abert's squirrels usually bear only one litter per year ^[4]. Hall and Kelson ^[21] however, reported that two litter are often borne per year in the southern parts of Abert's squirrel range.

The most apparent causes of Abert's squirrel mortality are food shortage and injuries (such as broken teeth) that lead to mortality.^[4]

Biology and behavior

The Abert's squirrel typically builds its nest in the branches of the ponderosa pine in groups of twigs infected with dwarf mistletoe. They are strictly diurnal. The Abert's squirrel does not store its food like other North American squirrels.

Food habits

Abert's squirrel eating a ponderosa pinecone

Abert's squirrels consume ponderosa pine year-round. Parts eaten include seeds, which are the most highly preferred item, inner bark (particularly of young twigs), terminal buds, staminate buds, and pollen cones. Other foods include fleshy fungi (particularly hypogeous fungi), carrion, bones, and antlers. Severe weather is not always a deterrent to feeding activity ^[4]. Where Mexican pinyon (Pinus cembroides) seeds are available, Abert's squirrels consume them in preference to ponderosa pine seeds ^[15]. Gambel oak acorns may also provide substantial food for Abert's squirrels ^[22].

Ponderosa pines produce large cone crops every 3 to 4 years; cones are virtually absent about 1 year out of 4. Abert's squirrels begin eating immature seed shortly after cone development begins in late May. Seeds are eaten through the summer as the cones mature. Seeds from up to 75 cones may be eaten per day per squirrel during the months when seeds form the squirrels' major food. Seeds are disseminated from cones in October and November. Abert's squirrels continue to consume seed from late maturing cones and collect single seeds from the ground. The succulent inner bark of twigs is eaten all year, but most heavily in winter. Needle clusters are clipped from the twigs, the outer bark is removed, the inner bark is consumed, and then the twig is discarded. In winter a single squirrel consumes about 45 twigs per day ^[4]. Most feed trees range from 11 to 30 inches (30–76 cm) d.b.h.^[8]. After seeds have been disseminated Abert's squirrels are dependent on inner bark, which forms the bulk of the diet from November to April. The soft inner tissue of small apical buds is also a preferred item. In May, staminate buds and cones and immature ovules are consumed as available. New staminate cones are entirely consumed; only the pollen is eaten from dried cones. The bark of areas infected with dwarf mistletoe also appears to be preferred.^[4]

Fleshy fungi consumed include members of the following genera: Agaricus, Amanita, Boletus, Hypholoma, Lepiota, Lycopedon, Russula, Tuber. Mushrooms poisonous to humans are consumed by Abert's squirrels without difficulty, including destroying angels (A. muscaria and A. vaginata) and a species of Russula ^[4].

Water is obtained mostly from food, but Abert's squirrels sometimes drink at stock ponds or other standing water (i.e., rain puddles) ^[4].

Predators

Reynolds ^[23] suggested that northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) may take enough Abert's squirrels to regulate Abert's squirrel populations. Hawks (Buteonidae and Falconidae) prey on Abert's squirrels in central Arizona, but even though other potential predators are present, i.e., gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), coyote (Canis latrans), there is no evidence that they prey on Abert's squirrels.^[4]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of Agriculture document "Sciurus aberti".