American red squirrel
The American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is a North American tree squirrel that eats conifer seeds and defends food-rich territories.
Midden: A concentrated cache of food and debris maintained by an animal, especially a red squirrel beneath a conifer tree. Red squirrels store conifer cones in middens, which provide food through winter.
Tree squirrel: A squirrel adapted to spend much of its life in trees. The American red squirrel is a small, territorial member of this broader group.
Seed dispersal: The movement of seeds away from the plants that produced them. Forgotten caches can move conifer seeds into sites where they may germinate.
Eastern gray squirrel: A large tree squirrel native to eastern North America, with gray, black, or other coat colors. It is larger and more associated with deciduous woodland and urban habitats.
Territoriality: The defense of an area against members of the same or other species. A red squirrel's territory centers on defended food stores.
Sciuridae: The mammal family comprising squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs. Its family relationships place the species among diverse rodents with varied habitats.
Forest regeneration: The renewal of forest vegetation after disturbance or tree loss. Red squirrel caching can influence where some conifers establish.
Fox squirrel: A large North American tree squirrel with variable gray, brown, or orange coloration. Its greater size and varied habitats distinguish it from the smaller red squirrel.
Territorial call: A vocal signal used to announce or defend an animal's territory. Red squirrels use repeated calls to signal territorial ownership.
Coniferous forest: A forest dominated by cone-bearing trees such as pines, spruces, or firs. Conifer forests supply the seeds that underpin much of its diet.