What is Squirrel?
{{Taxobox | name = Squirrel | image = Sciurus carolinensis.jpg| image_width = 250px | image_caption = Eastern Gray Squirrel, ''Sciurus carolinensis'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Rodent]]ia | familia = '''[[Sciuridae]]'''}} [[File:Squirrel posing.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Red squirrel]] [[File:blacksquirrelrev.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Several species of squirrels have [[melanism|melanistic]] phases. In large parts of the U.S. and Canada, the most common variety seen in town areas is the melanistic form of the Eastern gray squirrel.]] '''Squirrels''' are a large [[family (biology)|family]] of small to medium [[rodent]]s. It includes '''tree squirrels''', which are described on this page. The other squirrels are: [[ground squirrel]]s, [[chipmunk]]s, [[marmot]]s (including [[groundhog]]s), [[flying squirrel]]s, and [[prairie dog]]s. Squirrels are [[native (ecology)|native]] to the [[Americas]], [[Eurasia]], and [[Africa]], and have been introduced to [[Australia]]. The earliest known squirrels date from the [[Eocene]] and are most closely related to the [[mountain beaver]] and to the [[dormouse]] among living rodent families. Most squirrels are [[omnivore]]s; they eat anything they find. Many kinds of squirrels live in trees, so they often find [[Nut (fruit)|nuts]]. They eat [[Seed|seeds]], [[Berry|berries]], and [[Pine cone|pine cones]] too. Sometimes they eat [[Bird|bird's]] [[Egg (biology)|eggs]] and [[Insect|insects]]. Most tree squirrels store food in the fall, to eat in the winter. Ground squirrels do not store food. They [[hibernation|hibernate]] which means they spend winter in a deep sleep. Squirrels have many [[predator]]s or enemies. Their predators are [[Fox|foxes]], [[Wolf|wolves]], [[Coyote|coyotes]], [[Bear|bears]], [[Raccoon|raccoons]], [[lynx|lynxes]], [[Puma|cougars]], [[Weasel|weasels]], [[Cat|cats]], [[Dog|dogs]], [[Badger|badgers]], [[Snake|snakes]], and [[Bird of prey|birds of prey]]. == Tre