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All About Squirrel Territory



In order to survive, animals need a territory, enough food, water, and secure shelter. If they do not find the food within a given territory, they will travel to other places in search of food. When we talk about a squirrel, they try to live within the territory. On the need to search food they can travel near 5-7 miles, there are rare chances they may travel 10 miles. Travel distance can be varying from one squirrel specie to another.  Squirrels are well-known for covering a wide area; the size territory depends on weather and habitat type. In the forest of British hardwood, they seem to cover the 25-125 square miles. But the male has been reported to cover more than 100 square km in search of a female squirrel for mating purposes.  Males tend to cover more range as compared to females; on other, another female side squirrel tends to be covering more stable range. Range size can also depend on social status. According to research, red squirrel tends to be covering the less range as compare to the gray squirrel. It shows that range depends on power, the more powerful you are, and you will be able to cover the higher area. 

Change in territory
Yes, squirrel shifts their territory from one place to another place, but you may rarely see this change. They mainly try to live in one place, but due to cold weather or other conditions, they can change their territory.  The other reason to move from a specific territory is a lack of food. If they feel they are not getting enough food, they will move to a better place where they can find excessive food. They can also change the place if they find a better area, with more facilities.  In another research, it was found that red squirrel tends to move less as compare to gray squirrel, but they can move to increase the chance of breeding. A squirrel would definitely move to another place for breeding successfully. 

How squirrel mark a territory? 
Squirrel mark territory with the help of their scent. This scent can be their gland secretion by use of them. They mark a specific place that information to other this given area is allotted to someone.  They can also mark the territory with the help of their urine and waste smell when any other will try to enter within their territory; they can recognize them in time. To mark territory, they usually rub their check on the ground and drag their anus over; by doing this, they can produce the scent.  Size of territory can differ in the living place, like they may have a larger territory in rural areas or open habitats and have a short territory in urban areas, especially when they are living within the house or garden. 

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