Characteristics
The Arizona gray squirrel has gray fur and a white to cream belly. It has a long ears with no tufts and a fluffy tail edged in white. It is about 16-20 inches in length.
Range
The Arizona gray squirrel lives in canyon bottoms of central Arizona and the mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona. | |
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Habitat
The Arizona gray squirrel lives in deciduous forests with walnut, sycamore, oak, cottonwood and pine trees. It is usually found in areas with elevations of 5,000-6,000 feet above sea level. In New Mexico, it can be found in canyons with a water source and lots of black walnuts and acorns.
Diet
A large part of the Arizona gray squirrel's diet is made up of walnuts. It also eats fungi, pine cones, juniper berries, nuts, acorns, berries and seeds. When it cuts pine cones to feed on, it carries the whole cone to the trunk of the tree before removing the seeds.
Reproduction
Breeding season runs from April to May. Several males will chase a single female. Gestation lasts about two months. A leaf nest is made in a tree. The female has two to four babies.
Behavior
The Arizona gray squirrel is just as likely to flee from a threat by running on the ground as it is to climb a tree. It also will remain completely still when it wants to avoid detection.
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