North Carolina’s North Carolina’s State Mammal: Grey Squirrel State Mammal: Grey Squirrel

Guess the Covered Word LessonGuess the Covered Word Lesson

Created by: Morgan BlantonCreated by: Morgan Blanton

Guess the Covered Word Guess the Covered Word Reading StrategyReading Strategy

StartStart– Where is the word? Beginning, middle, or end Where is the word? Beginning, middle, or end

of the sentence? Cover it up (except through of the sentence? Cover it up (except through the first vowel or vowels)!the first vowel or vowels)!

ThinkThink– What makes sense? What about grammatical What makes sense? What about grammatical

clues?clues? LookLook

– How long is the word?How long is the word? ListenListen

– Letters, suffixes, prefixes, syllables known Letters, suffixes, prefixes, syllables known “little words”“little words”

In 1969, North Carolina’s In 1969, North Carolina’s General Assembly named General Assembly named the grey squirrel as our the grey squirrel as our state mammal. It state mammal. It belongs to the order belongs to the order “Rodentia” which is the “Rodentia” which is the largest group of living largest group of living mammals. Rodents mammals. Rodents make up 40% of mammal make up 40% of mammal species today. Included species today. Included in this group are mice, in this group are mice, groundhogs, and groundhogs, and gophers.gophers.

In North Carolina, they live in all regions, from In North Carolina, they live in all regions, from the coastal plains to the mountains. The grey the coastal plains to the mountains. The grey

squirrel has been known to build a nest in squirrel has been known to build a nest in many unusual places, like in an attic or a crawl many unusual places, like in an attic or a crawl

space. Squirrels have also built nests in space. Squirrels have also built nests in automobiles, chimneys, barbecue grills and automobiles, chimneys, barbecue grills and

under porches. An adult squirrel normally lives under porches. An adult squirrel normally lives alone. But will, in severe cold, share its nest alone. But will, in severe cold, share its nest with other squirrels to conserve body heat. with other squirrels to conserve body heat.

Once the temperature rises, the guests will be Once the temperature rises, the guests will be on their way. on their way.

A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut. They A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut. They use squeaks to communicate with each other. use squeaks to communicate with each other.

When used in conjunction with tail gestures, these When used in conjunction with tail gestures, these sounds form the basis for their communication. sounds form the basis for their communication.

Squirrels chew on tree branches to sharpen and Squirrels chew on tree branches to sharpen and clean their teeth. Their incisors will grow six clean their teeth. Their incisors will grow six inches per year, but stay short due to the inches per year, but stay short due to the constant wear they receive. A squirrel’s teeth constant wear they receive. A squirrel’s teeth grow continuously. A squirrel will break the shell grow continuously. A squirrel will break the shell of a nut with its teeth, then clean the nut by of a nut with its teeth, then clean the nut by licking it or rubbing on its face before it is licking it or rubbing on its face before it is buried. This action applies a scent to the nut buried. This action applies a scent to the nut which helps the squirrel find it later, even under which helps the squirrel find it later, even under a foot of snow. It does not hide nuts where it a foot of snow. It does not hide nuts where it finds them, but carries them to a new spot, finds them, but carries them to a new spot, burying each nut individually in a hole.burying each nut individually in a hole.

The grey squirrel’s diet consists of nuts, seeds and The grey squirrel’s diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit. It will eat bird eggs, bugs, and even an animal fruit. It will eat bird eggs, bugs, and even an animal

carcass if there is no other food source available. The carcass if there is no other food source available. The grey squirrel requires some salt in its diet, and may grey squirrel requires some salt in its diet, and may find this salt in the soil along roads where snow and find this salt in the soil along roads where snow and

ice may have been. The average adult squirrel needs ice may have been. The average adult squirrel needs to eat about a pound of food a week to maintain an to eat about a pound of food a week to maintain an

active life. active life.

Grey squirrels come in many colors.  Shades of Grey squirrels come in many colors.  Shades of grey are the most common followed by grey are the most common followed by

shades of brown. There are also pure white shades of brown. There are also pure white and pure black squirrels,  but both are types and pure black squirrels,  but both are types of grey squirrels. Squirrels eyes are located of grey squirrels. Squirrels eyes are located high, and on each side of their head.  This high, and on each side of their head.  This allows them a wide field of vision, without allows them a wide field of vision, without

turning their head. turning their head.

ReferencesReferences

•http://www.squirrels.org/facts.html

•Google search for “grey squirrel” images