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Nowhere else on earth will you see the likes of Kaibab, or ghost squirrel. Although you may meet its cousin Abert on the South Rim, central Arizona, western New Mexico and southern Colorado. They haven’t seen each other in a very long time because of the Grand Canyon. Kaibab is actually a subspecies of Abert and there are subtle differences to their look. Both are tassel-eared and have a dark charcoal-gray body with a rusty spot on the back. However Abert has a white belly and only the underside of its tail is white.
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Almost all visitors to the North Rim want to know where to see the illusive Kaibab Squirrel. I usually send them to the campground. But all I have to do is watch quietly around my RV and will usually see one or two daily.
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Kaibab squirrels live in about a 40 square mile territory in the Kaibab forest and have a definite love affair with Ponderosa Pines. In fact they can’t live without them. They build pine-needle nests used all year, not just to raise young, but also to hide in during bad weather or from a predator like Goshawk. However, Kaibab doesn’t usually run up the tree it lives in. Instead it jumps from nearby trees with crossing branches so as not to advertise where it lives.
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The ghost squirrel eats the ever ripening nut in the pine cones all summer and into fall yet never caches away a thing for winter when it has to resort to twig tips, minus the unwanted cone bundles and bark to eat the living phloem beneath. Ponderosa has a turp content, like turpentine, and Kaibab looks for the sweeter trees. It’s probably happy when spring arrives and new flowers appear loaded with pollen which turns the squirrel’s nose yellow.
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Plus that gourmet nose leads to another food source which grows symbiotically with Ponderosa’s roots, a microrizal fungi, which maybe even you have eaten. Truffles grow about 1-3 inches underground and Kaibab digs them up to eat. However, the spores of the truffles don’t digest, so Kaibab leaves them behind when pooping and that will increase the fungi which helps the tree. These two have a pretty good thing going.
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Almost all visitors to the North Rim want to know where to see the illusive Kaibab Squirrel. I usually send them to the campground. But all I have to do is watch quietly around my RV and will usually see one or two daily.
.jpg)
Kaibab squirrels live in about a 40 square mile territory in the Kaibab forest and have a definite love affair with Ponderosa Pines. In fact they can’t live without them. They build pine-needle nests used all year, not just to raise young, but also to hide in during bad weather or from a predator like Goshawk. However, Kaibab doesn’t usually run up the tree it lives in. Instead it jumps from nearby trees with crossing branches so as not to advertise where it lives.
.jpg)
The ghost squirrel eats the ever ripening nut in the pine cones all summer and into fall yet never caches away a thing for winter when it has to resort to twig tips, minus the unwanted cone bundles and bark to eat the living phloem beneath. Ponderosa has a turp content, like turpentine, and Kaibab looks for the sweeter trees. It’s probably happy when spring arrives and new flowers appear loaded with pollen which turns the squirrel’s nose yellow.
.jpg)
Plus that gourmet nose leads to another food source which grows symbiotically with Ponderosa’s roots, a microrizal fungi, which maybe even you have eaten. Truffles grow about 1-3 inches underground and Kaibab digs them up to eat. However, the spores of the truffles don’t digest, so Kaibab leaves them behind when pooping and that will increase the fungi which helps the tree. These two have a pretty good thing going.
Any unusual squirrels where you live?
what a cute little fellow. love that bushy white tail…beautiful.
and those ears!
enjoyed the info you shared too.
have a wonderful evening.
What a cutie! Fascinating that the Kaibab squirrel only lives on the North Rim. Just love those pointy ears and white tail, never knew these squirrels existed. How wonderful that you get to see them often. 🙂
I have a love-hate relationship with squirrels, since they empty the bird feeders at the cottage – on the other hand they’re just so damn cute. Course, if they only emptied the feeders without actually tearing them to bits, I wouldn’t really mind.
However, bring a couple like them to the Laurentians, and I’ll gladly feed them, they’re beautiful. That tail is spectacular.
I saw a Kaibab squirrel once when we were in the north rim vicinity, but it didn’t hang around for a photograph. I’m glad to learn about their life cycle. They’re an interesting critter, and your “ghost” title is apt.
What an interesting character!
A most interesting article Gaelyn. I love those tufted ears and the white tail. I have an article (I think tomorrow) about the simbiotic relationship between ants and aphids/larvae. Interesting to study these things.
I was excited to find black squirrels in my neighborhood but your ghost is much more interesting. Glad you’re feeling better!
What a wonderful little fellow, and to think that but for blogging, and following your blog in particular, I would have missed this wonderful experience!
What a helpful little guy he is to increase the truffle population as well.
Great photographs and even better nature talk.
Fascinating post about another treasure of the SW. Truffle poopers?
Thanks for a really interesting post it is always good to learn something. What amazing tails – we don’t have squirrels here.
That is the cuties little squirrel! Very interesting information!
I think i need to hike one of those fellows to find some truffles for me!
Great post, he sure is a handsom squirrel.
Very cute, with such a beautiful tail, quite the prettiest squirrel I have ever seen. And he is actually helping the forest, how wonderful.
I love that squirrel! Thanks for sharing the pictures and story with us.
He really does look like he has a ghost following him around! Love this post!
These are one of my favorite squirrels to find around up north. It’s true….the secret to finding these guys is just drinking a nice refreshment quietly…usually during a good book, and wait:) They are very cool to see in the wild:) Great pics of these little guys.