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To lick up sodium chloride ("SO-dee-um KLOR-ide") - common salt - a nutrient animals need to live. Squirrels really crave it in spring. Sometimes they get it on roads.
Why? Because dump trucks spread rock salt on roads in the winter to melt the ice and snow. The salt gets down into cracks in the pavement. Some of it stays until after the winter. In spring squirrels find it and, yes, lick it up.
Why do they crave salt in spring? To balance the extra potassium ("puh-TASS-ee-um") in their diet. In spring a squirrel eats fewer nuts. It snarfs up fresh, green food instead: buds, shoots, etc. This food has a lot of potassium in it. The squirrel eats salt to balance that potassium. The squirrel needs to keep that balance to live. Road-licking might look nutty but it works (in light traffic).
Remember in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"? Don't touch that squirrel's salt! It'll make him crazy!
Twig
P.S. Moose, woodchucks and other animals also lick road salt, too. A danger to car and licker!
Note: The main source for this column was "Salt Preferences and Sodium Drive Phenology in Fox Squirrels and Woodchucks" by Harmon P. Weeks Jr. and Charles M. Kirkpatrick, both of Purdue University, in the Journal of Mammalogy, August 1978. This week's question came from Twig's brother, Log. Thanks!"Smart Stuff with Twig Walkingstick," a service of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences - specifically, of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension, both part of the College - is a weekly column for children about science, nature, farming and the environment. The reading level usually rates at grades 3.5-4.5. For details and to receive Twig free by mail or e-mail, contact the writer, Kurt Knebusch, CommTech, OSU/OARDC,1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, knebusch.1@osu.edu, (330) 263-3776. Online: extension.osu.edu/~news/archive.php?series=science.
What else can I help you with?
What are some differences between eastern grey squirrels and California ground squirrels?
a grey squirrials is a grey and rare squarral its bite can hurt but a califorma squirral bites dont hurt a grey squirrials is a grey and rare squarral its bite can hurt but a califorma squirral bites dont hurt
Do red squirrels bite grey squirrels scrotum's?
No. Where the grey and red squirrels intermingle, the red squirrels tend to be pushed out by the larger greys.
What is the most common squirrel?
The eastern gray squirrel is the most common species of squirrel in North America.
Are grey squirrels a type of tree squirrels?
Having fostered and released nearly 100 eastern grey squirrels, I have to say without a doubt they are tree squirrels and most seem to prefer conifer trees to live in. I am enjoying my first experience with a Douglas squirrel. I can see how delicate they are as a good reason for the eastern greys taking over their territory. We will be taking him back to the island he was rescued (mauled by a cat) from in the spring when he has matured and shown evidence of self sufficiency.
What are 8 kinds of squirrels?
if you mean family, all squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks etc. belong to sciuridae in order rodentia, class mammalia etc.But im pretty sure you mean species. so although i could give you a list ill never be able to memorise all of them. this site will or should help you though http://www.angelfire.com/fl/scalisti/species.html
What are some differences between eastern grey squirrels and California ground squirrels?
a grey squirrials is a grey and rare squarral its bite can hurt but a califorma squirral bites dont hurt a grey squirrials is a grey and rare squarral its bite can hurt but a califorma squirral bites dont hurt
What is the scientific name for squirrels?
sciurus carolinenis: eastern grey squirrel sciurus vulgaris: red squirrel
Are fox squirrels bigger than grey squirrels?
yes .Fox squirrels are bigger than grey squirrels
Do red squirrels bite grey squirrels scrotum's?
No. Where the grey and red squirrels intermingle, the red squirrels tend to be pushed out by the larger greys.
What is the most common squirrel?
The eastern gray squirrel is the most common species of squirrel in North America.
Do red squirrels bite grey squirrels scrotums?
No.
Are squirrels diurnal or nocturnal?
Different species of squirrels are nocturnal, diurnal, or crepuscular. For example, the eastern grey squirrel is diurnal, asleep during the night, while some flying squirrels are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day.
Can eastern grey squirrels fly longer distances such as 40 feet from one tree to another?
Yes, they can actually fly 300. Some of them inherit a specific, and incredibly rare gene, known as "malgena paralysis." This is also the gene that gives garden gnomes their pedophilia tic appearance. However, in eastern grey flying squirrels, this gene causes the animal to grow large, feathered wings. The wings possessed by the squirrel can allow it to fly miles without stopping. This trait is particularly helpful when the squirrels migrate east for the winter. Ah, how I love the simple complexity of grey eastern flying squirrels. I believe they are one of the most majestic creatures in the wild. From my knowledge, the only animal that surpasses the eastern grey squirrel in beauty is the Antarctic jackelope.
Are grey squirrels a type of tree squirrels?
Having fostered and released nearly 100 eastern grey squirrels, I have to say without a doubt they are tree squirrels and most seem to prefer conifer trees to live in. I am enjoying my first experience with a Douglas squirrel. I can see how delicate they are as a good reason for the eastern greys taking over their territory. We will be taking him back to the island he was rescued (mauled by a cat) from in the spring when he has matured and shown evidence of self sufficiency.
How long before squirrels are born?
Eastern grey squirrels and fox squirrels have two litters a year. The first litter is born from February to March while the second is born from June to July
What diet do squirrels have?
Grey Squirrels go "nuts" for food!
Who kills grey squirrels?
I do
