It is not unusual to hear the word “fairydiddle” to describe American red squirrels in West Virginia.
I do not know the origin of the term, but the term often also applies to flying squirrels in other parts of the country.
American red squirrels are not closely related to the tufted-eared red squirrels of Eurasia. Those squirrels are members of the genus Sciurus, which includes the three species of gray squirrel in North America and the fox squirrel (the big one). North American red squirrels are related to Douglas squirrels with which they share the genus Tamiasciurus.
Douglas squirrels live in the three Pacific coastal states and British Columbia. They also have two alternative names– chickaree and pine squirrel. The two species closely resemble each other and are roughly the same size. The American red squirrel is tawny colored with a white belly, while the Douglas squirrel is dun-brown with a yellow or tawny belly.
Douglas squirrel
Both of these species are far more territorial than the grey squirrels, the fox squirrel, and the Eurasian red squirrel. Typically, you can find all of those species living in loosely knit colonies. Usually, if you find an American red squirrel or a Douglas squirrel, it is alone or fighting with another one so that it can be alone.
For some reason, I don’t find American red and Eastern gray squirrels in the same place. They don’t really share exactly the same habitat, but they do have a range that overlaps.
I have heard an urban (well, in this case, rural) legend that American reds are so aggressive towards the larger Eastern grays that they drive them from their territories. They even invade their nesting holes and dreys and castrate their male offspring.
I don’t know whether these stories are true.
I do know that you almost never find the two species together.
And I also know that no one in their right mind would kill an American red squirrel and eat it. It’s far too small and bony.
The best “eating squirrel” is the Eastern gray– especially one that has been eating acorns and hickory nuts all autumn.
i love red ones
Red squirrels do castrate at the very least Fox squirrels. I found 2 squirrels last year in the middle of the road dead, they were castrated. I have been told this and noe believe it. So if I ever see those mean Red squirrels I will go grab my .22 and take care of them. Besides the Grey and Fox squirrels are fun to watch, and make a great pot pie.
Greys make excellent gravy.
I in the past have hunted squirrels and found several with one or both testicles gone. Dad always told me that the male would come to the nest when they were young and castrate them to cut down on the competition later. I do not think he was entirely correct. I’ve read recently where squirrels at that age have testicles that have not dropped down yet.
I no longer hunt. I gave it up years ago. I’d rather be out there with a camera taking their pictures. Squirrels can be so funny to watch.
Oh…. one last thing. The squirrel in the top photo looks a lot like what we used to call ground squirrels here in Missouri. Too small to eat and makes lots of noise in the woods. When I was a kid and teaching myself how to hunt they fooled me many a time into thinking I had a deer approaching or a squirrel worthy of eating.
It was later I learned that deer move like ghosts through the woods. You rarely hear them unless they are spooked or jumping a fence.