# Abert's Squirrel (*Sciurus aberti*) Abert's Squirrel is a cute, fluffy squirrel with big ears and a bushy tail. They love to climb trees and can often be seen playing in the branches or gathering food. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Abert's Squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aberts_squirrel.jpg&width=800) Photo: NPS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aberts_squirrel.jpg) ## Appearance The Abert's Squirrel is a medium-sized tree squirrel known for its distinctive long ear tufts, especially prominent in winter. Its fur is typically gray on the back with a reddish stripe, and a bright white belly. Some individuals are entirely black or melanistic. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Sciurus ## Interesting facts - Some Abert's squirrels are completely black, looking like a different animal! - Their huge fluffy tail helps them balance, steer, and keep warm! - They rely almost entirely on the Ponderosa Pine tree for food and shelter! - This squirrel is named after a naturalist, Colonel John James Abert! ## Special abilities - **Winter Whispers Listener:** Abert's Squirrel has long ear tufts that provide extra warmth and might aid in hearing subtle sounds in its forest home. - **Pine Cone Master:** Abert's Squirrel can skillfully strip scales from Ponderosa Pine cones to reach the nutritious seeds hidden deep within. - **Snow-Covered Snack Finder:** Abert's Squirrel has an incredible sense of smell that helps it locate buried pine seeds, even under snow. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 46-58 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-0.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-7 years - **Speed:** 19 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-4 - **Gestation:** 41-42 days ## Diet & Feeding Abert's Squirrels mostly eat parts of Ponderosa Pine trees, especially their yummy seeds! - **Primary Foods:** Ponderosa Pine seeds, Ponderosa Pine inner bark (phloem), Ponderosa Pine buds, Ponderosa Pine pollen cones, Fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Ponderosa Pine (*Pinus ponderosa*) — Abert's Squirrel depends on it for almost all its food and shelter. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Goshawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-goshawk) (*Accipiter gentilis*) — An agile raptor that often preys on squirrels in the forest canopy. - **Eaten by:** [Bobcat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bobcat) (*Lynx rufus*) — A stealthy predator that hunts these squirrels on the forest floor. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch squirrels from a distance and don't try to touch them, as they can be scared. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Abert's Squirrel? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Abert's Squirrel? 46-58 cm ### How much does Abert's Squirrel weigh? 0.5-0.7 kg ### How long does Abert's Squirrel live? 4-7 years ### How fast can Abert's Squirrel move? 19 km/h ### What does Abert's Squirrel eat? Abert's Squirrels mostly eat parts of Ponderosa Pine trees, especially their yummy seeds! ### Where is Abert's Squirrel usually found? Forests ### How does Abert's Squirrel hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bandelier CCC Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bandelier-ccc-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Grand Canyon Inn and Campground](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-canyon-inn-and-campground) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Grand Canyon North Rim Headquarters](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-canyon-north-rim-headquarters) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Main Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/main-avenue-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Railroad Addition Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/railroad-addition-historic-district) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [The Arboretum at Flagstaff](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-arboretum-at-flagstaff) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Abert's Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/aberts-squirrel) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Abert's Squirrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aberts-squirrel)