Social Interactions Between Eastern Grays

Social System

Source - http://theportuguesewaterblog.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

Squirrels living in close proximity develop a strict hierarchy system. Older, dominant adult males have control over smaller and younger male squirrels. Female squirrels are submissive to male squirrels unless they have litters of young to protect and defend. Adult squirrels are promiscuous mammals and do not form pair bonds. Once a male has mated with a female, his role in rearing young with the female has ended. Although squirrels usually live alone, during the breeding season, squirrels may share their nests with their mates for short time periods. Squirrels may also share their nests during winter to conserve warmth.

Home Ranges

source - http://www.northrup.org/photos/grey-squirrel/2/

Squirrels have small territories around their nests or dens called home ranges. The size of a home range can vary depending on food availability, but it is usually about 1-6 acres. Home ranges between gray squirrels and even other species of squirrels can overlap slightly. However, usually squirrels keep to their own areas and don't wander into foreign territory.

Communication
Gray squirrels use visual gestures, scents, and sounds to communicate with each other. Most of their communications can be separated into territorial or alarm signals. Their most common visual gestures use their incredibly expressive tails in flicking or waving motions. Tail waving is used to communicate with other squirrels across a distance, like flag waving, in order to send warnings. Squirrels twitch their tails when they are uneasy or suspicious. They also use scents to mark territories. Squirrels are creatures of habit and mark their regular routes with urine and glandular secretions. They use scent to identify food and each other by smell. Squirrels also communicate vocally through barks of anger or warning, and through playful or curious chirps. Squirrels are social creatures and are naturally very expressive and talkative.

source - http://www.humourlaughs.com/2012/01/13/a-squirrel-shielding-itself-from-the-snow-with-its-tail/

Written by Olisavia