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| Carl Sagan's COSMOS is one of the most influential science programs ever made.
Q. Does the moon have a dark side?
A. The moon does have a far side which is impossible to see from the earth, but it doesn't mean that it's always dark. Each side of the moon is dark for no longer than 15 days at a time.
Q. Where does sound come from?
A. The air is always filled with sound waves. All things give off vibrations, but some have a low frequency which most cannot hear. The reason: it may take 3 minutes to make a single vibration. They may be caused by earthquakes and storms.
Did You Know?
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
Coke-a-Cola was originally green.
Rubberbands last longer when refrigerated.
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Squirrels
by Jeanette Cain
One of nature's most curious animals is the common American flying squirrel. Their routine is active at night and sleeping or quiet during the day. Although numerous in numbers, their night life usually prevents them from being viewed by most people. The flying squirrel lives in Canada, Texas, Mexico, and every Atlantic state. Sometimes, they will make nests in hollow trees, or in the roofs of houses, living on a diet of seeds and nuts. The flying squirrel of the North will bear young only once a year, but those living in the South will bear young twice a year. The usual number of young born will be from three to six - at one time. Any youngster trying to leave the nest will have its mother turn it on its back. Just mom's way of saying, "You're not going out tonight." If one does make it pass mom, she will find and grab the youngster's thighs in her mouth, while the youngster grabs her around the neck, and she will once again scurry back to the nest.
Flying squirrels have been known to make nice little pets, which is out of context of their normally shy and timid behavior. The Sun hurts the eyes of a flying squirrel, which is why they forage at night - their eyes are made for seeing in the dark. These type squirrels will have social parties, meaning many from the same neighborhood will gather together. If they are startled, you may see many squirrels coming forth from the tall trees and flying in all directions. The flying action is accomplished by going to the highest tree branches, then stretching their legs, which expands the flying membrane, spread the tail, and launch itself forward with a jump or spring. It usual aims for the trunk of a tree up to fifty yards away. They glide swiftly, descend to the earth, then make a sudden upward turn and land on the part of the tree for which they had aimed. There are times when this seems to be as much sport and recreation rather than the result of having been frightened.
The chirping squirrel, known as the American ground squirrel, lives in underground burrows. They are shy creatures and have difficulty being trained as pets. They do spend a great deal of time near homes and even streets. What it lacks in speed it makes up for in play. They enjoy watching people from their burrows, which along with its brownish gray color may prevent others knowing of its presence. The American grounds have a bushy tail and stripes going down their back.
During the fall season they will load their wide cheek pouches with nuts from trees to prepare its winter store house. The burrows will usually have two to three openings around the root of a tree. The openings come to an end in a chamber that has been lined with leaves and may provide sleeping quarters for up to four. The side galleries are reserved for food storage, and they will not stop gathering food until cold weather prevents it. Mothers will bear four or five youngsters at a time, but will only appear with their mother in the spring and proceed to go whereever she may lead. These squirrels seldom climb trees, but when necessary, it is accomplished with agility. The chirping noise has been compared to the American cuckoo, which often seems to turn into song when other squirrels begin answering in chorus.
The most common of the squirrels is the gray squirrel. It is often hunted as a food source. It prefers woods that have many plentiful, nut-bearing trees. The gray is an early riser and can be seen in the mornings scampering across the ground, rustling through leaves to find its morning meal. They do have a loud barking noise, which allows anyone to know they are living in the neighborhood. The gray's summer home is normally a nest of leaves in a tree fork, but its winter home will be made in a tree hollow. Mothers will remain in this home until their young are born in May or June. Although gray squirrels bury many of the nuts with the intention of returning, many times their locations are forgotten. The gray squirrel has buried them in such a manner as to provide an excellent method for sprouting, if it cannot find the nuts. It is thought that the gray squirrel plants many trees in a single year.
Gray squirrels will sometimes become friends with people who feed it, and if they do not feel threatened. If a person sits often enough, they may climb into the person's lap to get the food. There have been gray squirrels that have lived in captivity. It would need tp be caught when it was young, and they require gentle treatment. Like a hamster, they enjoy a revolving wheel in which to play. As with any animal, they are happier and more content when living a natural life in a natural habitat.
Gray squirrels have a habit of moving from place to place in large numbers. They naturally dislike water, but when the numbers move in groups, they have risked crossing large bodies of water to reach their destination. These migrations normally occur in the fall. There was an old tale of squirrels using a piece of wood bark as a boat. Who knows? Maybe these squirrels constructed the first boat, even earlier than the Norsemen! The squirrel would put the bark under its chin as a float, raise its tail like a sail and pass across the water safely. Only good story telling, not reality.
Fox squirrels, larger than the gray squirrel, live in the South. Its diet consists of nuts and acorns, but it does not normally store its food. The fox prefers to collect it's food during the day in winter and they possess the ability to live on very little. If frightened, the fox squirrel will retreat to the top of a tree, or a hollow, and disguise itself by lying flat in the bough. It has a loud bark, and when witnessed fighting on the ground, the fox has been known to frighten away a small dog. The cat squirrel found in the Middle States, is smaller than the fox squirrel.
If we wish to know and understand nature, we need to look below the surface and view those things that are out of our sight. There are many creatures and plants just beyond our sight, unless we make the effort to look carefully.
Source:
1. Editors. The World Book Encyclopedia. World Book-Childcraft International, Inc: Chicago. 1990
Further Study:
SquirrelWorld
basic Care and Feeding of Orphaned Baby Grey Squirrels
The Squirrel Place
Trivia, facts, and downloadable games for squirrel lovers.
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