Gray Squirrels!

Doesn’t it seem like the squirrels are everywhere? It’s because they are, especially in Site settings like here at Mastodon State Historic Site. Gray squirrels have a huge population, and their presence is an integral part of the environment. Any hunting or population management is regulated by the Missouri Dept of Natural Resources. The squirrels have a diet of nuts and acorns from oak, beech, walnut, and hickory trees, as well as seeds, fruits, bulbs and flowers. But did you know squirrels are omnivores? They also eat frogs, and insects. They are visible by their white bellies, they are mostly gray but can be red, black, and albino as well. They grow up to sizes of almost 2 ft long and have short ears unlike some other squirrels. Their nests are called dreys, and are usually found 30ft off the ground on tree branches.