We usually associate squirrels with wooded areas filled with magnificent exuberant pine trees, usually found in restricted cold climate zones. Nevertheless, one may be surprised upon hearing that there are a couple of species of cute little evasive squirrels who have made their home in the intricate tropical forest that surrounds the bay, as close as a few meters from the beach. They are the Colima tree squirrel (Sciurus colliaei) and Audubon's ground squirrel (Spermophilus annulatus) which, despite their reduced numbers in the region, are not in any danger of extinction.

Squirrels are members of the rodent family, characterized by a rather nervous temperament. We can often observe them busy at some activity, but always aware of everything going on around them. They are sociable beings, but they still do not tolerate the presence of strange members of their own kind within their territory. If an outsider dares to enter their territory, it will be chased away immediately and in a much less than friendly manner.

These little creatures devote a large part of their time to their search for food, which they eagerly store in holes they dig in the earth, with the steadfast intention of having adequate reserves for that "rainy day". If they forget the exact places they chose to hide their alternative source of food, their acute sense of smell will help them find it again. Despite this, much food remains buried but it does not go to waste as an endless number of wild animals feed on the reserves left behind by the squirrels. Consequently, they indirectly provide an ecological social service to the entire ecosystem.

The dexterity developed by squirrels in burying and finding food has inspired scientists to reason that they are animals that possess the ability to reason in order to solve problems. To support that statement, an experiment was conducted wherein cookies were given to the squirrels. It was noted that they did not bury them, and when the trees they used as shelter were nearby, they devoured them immediately. But if those were far away, they ate the smaller ones (rather quickly) on the spot where they found them, and took the larger ones with them back to the trees. These decisions implied a comparison between the reasoned risk of being caught and the benefit derived from eating immediately.

With regard to the species that inhabit the Bay of Banderas, the Colima tree squirrel is an animal that lives in the trees, and quite large in size as it reaches 3 feet in length from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail. The body is svelte and very flexible, its snout is short and the eyes are relatively large. The ears are small, erect and covered with hair. Its forelegs are short and its paws have four fingers with sharp claws which do not hamper it in any way from manipulating objects with great ease and dexterity. The tail, longer than the combined length of the head and the body, is covered with abundant hair. Its fur is gray on the back, with a diffused band of black hair along the spine.

The squirrels' favorite habitat is the forests, the mango plantations and the palm groves. These animals are active during the daytime, mostly in the mornings and around sunset time. They climb and jump through the trees and the branches with great agility, helping themselves along with their tails to maintain their balance and not fall to the ground. Although they are sociable animals that may form groups as large as 10 or 12 individuals, generally when they are feeding or during the mating season, they are beings that prefer the solitary life.

They build their nests with dried twigs and leaves on the branches of trees or they may take advantage of the holes they find there or in palm trees. These are herbivorous animals that feed on fruit and seeds. Some observations along the coast of Jalisco have noted that they eat plums and wild mushrooms as well as coconuts. Their pregnancies last 44 days that culminate with the birth of one to five offspring that suckle for 8 to 10 weeks. The Colima tree squirrel is a species that is endemic to Mexico. It can be found along the Pacific coast from the state of Sonora all the way south to the state of Colima.

For its part, Audubon's ground squirrel is also endemic to this country, like the species above. Its habitat is much more limited as it only extends along the Pacific coast from the southern part of Nayarit to the state of Guerrero. It is a rodent with a large body reaching between 50 and 80 cm. (20" - 32") from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail. Its eyes are large, it has a short neck and snout, and the ears are small, erect and covered with hair. The length of the tail is equal to or longer than the rest of the body and the head combined, and it is covered with abundant, long hair. Overall, the color of the fur that covers its body is yellowish brown, with diffuse stripes alternating between light and dark on the tail.

Audubon's ground squirrels build their lairs underground, under rocks or trees. They are active in the daytime who also limit their activities to the early morning hours and around sunset. Although they are clearly land animals, they are also extremely agile climbers. They are gregarious animals that live in family groups within their underground shelters. Their main foods are fruit and grasses, although they also frequently consume insects. Mating occurs during the dry season from November to May and mother squirrels can give birth to litters of one to five offspring.

Finally, simply watching squirrels is a life lesson for human beings. Their search for food and the manner in which they store it are examples of arduous work and pertinent planning that we should apply during our existence, with the firm goal of facing an uncertain future in a satisfactory manner.

cupul@pvmirror.com