Saturday Sciuridae - Jan 15, 2011

Sciurus carolinensis (eastern gray squirrel), taken in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Source.

I did a class research project on S. carolinensis in my mammalogy class during undergrad. It had something to do with the giving up density of the squirrels' foraging behavior in open spaces near a home tree vs. on the edge of a riparian corridor. What it amounted to was me driving out to the woods at 6am every day to count walnuts in the snow. I liked that class.

I've been to the Smoky Mountains many times in my childhood. I have very fond memories of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN.