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The tiny little tree squirrel is a common inhabitant of South Africa's Kruger National Park.
Need Advice?The sub-species of tree squirrel found in the Kruger National Park, known as Smith's Bush Squirrel, is covered by shades of grey fur, with yellow parts covering its lower-back region, hind legs, and its bushy, long tail.
These squirrels are exclusive to sub-Saharan and sub-equatorial Africa. They occur throughout most of Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, into Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique going into South Africa. They don't inhabit the Kalahari or Namib Deserts, where the lack of cover poses a significant disadvantage to their survival. It also applies to floodplains or treeless plains.
They are widespread and not threatened, labeled as 'of least concern' by organizations such as the IUCN. They have many populations in protected areas, and their populations are considered large, although determining an estimate may be quite the task. Their numbers are not declining rapidly enough to be called near threatened or vulnerable on a conservation status scale.
The various wooded areas of the Kruger National Park offer many suitable shelters and habitats, from Mopane forests to tree-rich woodland regions. Most squirrel species prefer trees with natural holes because they use them as a shelter and place to raise young. Their primary food source is also found within trees; seeds. They spread seeds around large trees to facilitate regrowth, forming a symbiotic relationship with the trees they inhabit.
They are arranged into family groups who usually share a shelter. All members of such a family group share the same scent, making life much easier when setting boundaries for other families and their members. The young are raised together by their respective mothers, a communal and social relationship-building exercise. Males display territorial behavior by protecting their homes, although .females and adolescents sometimes show the same behavior.
We recommend the following National Parks and Private Reserves for the best chances of spotting the tree squirrel on safari game drives and bush walks.
They are most active during the day. Tree squirrels spend most of their time in trees, on branches, and between leaves, avoiding direct sunlight. They mostly forage for food during this time but keep a careful lookout for any predator lurking. Especially juvenile squirrels are very vulnerable. They also groom and socialize vocally, checking for parasites and maintaining hygiene.
They typically mature sexually at around 6 to 9 months of age. It is then when they are exiled from their family group by the dominant breeding pair to eliminate competition and force them to start a family of their own. Once they find suitable mates, they start breeding, have offspring and repeat the cycle. Mating is seasonal, with most young born during the wet season.
They 'mob' when under threat by other families or by predators. The idea of mobbing is to intimidate and scare off your attackers with sheer showmanship, confidence, and ferocity. All the group members lift their tails to make them seem bigger and make a clicking sound while slowly and confidently moving closer and closer. Some bird species, small carnivores, and domesticated animals are their usual predators. When this does not work, they run and seek shelter.
