Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
Habitat
Mearns' squirrels primarily inhabit coniferous forests, especially ponderosa pine woodlands in the southwestern United States, such as Arizona and New Mexico. They prefer mountainous terrain with ample trees for nesting and foraging.
Diet
Their diet mainly consists of pine seeds, cones, fungi, and occasionally insects or berries. They are active foragers during the day, often climbing trees to gather food and caching excess for winter storage.
Behavior
Mearns' squirrels are diurnal and arboreal, spending most of their time in trees and being highly active during daylight hours. They are territorial, using vocal calls to defend their area and warn of threats, and they exhibit food-caching behavior to prepare for scarce seasons.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status for Mearns' squirrels is Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat loss from logging and urbanization.