True Bhakt of Sri Ram

Kids’ Org.

Squirrels are generally small animals, ranging in size from the African pygmy squirrel at 7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in) in length and just 10 g (0.35 oz) in weight, to the Alpine marmot, which is 53–73 cm (21–29 in) long and weighs from 5 to 8 kg (11 to 18 lb). Squirrels typically have slender bodies with bushy tails and large eyes. In general, their fur is soft and silky, although much thicker in some species than others. The colour of squirrels is highly variable between—and often even within—species.
In general, the hind limbs are longer than the fore limbs, and they have four or five toes on each paw. Their paws include a poorly developed thumb, and have soft pads on the undersides. Squirrels live in almost every habitat from tropical rainforest to semiarid desert, avoiding only the high Polar Regions and the driest of deserts. They are predominantly herbivorous, subsisting on seeds and nuts, but many eat insects and even small vertebrates.
As their large eyes indicate, squirrels have an excellent sense of vision, which is especially important for tree-dwelling species.

Most squirrels die in the first year of their life. Adult squirrels can have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years in the wild. Some can survive up to 20 years in captivity.
Squirrels breed once or twice in a year and give birth to a varying number of young after a gestation period of three to six weeks, depending on species.