Location: near Scarborough Heights Park
Date photo taken: 9 September 2013
Meet the American red squirrel or Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. While more commonly referred to as simply a red squirrel, the American part is used to distinguish them from their Eurasian cousins, which look quite similar but are actually a different genus. They are part of a group of squirrels known as pine squirrels, and this particular fellow is eating away at a pine cone. They can be harder to spot than Toronto's ubiquitous grey squirrels, but if you want to see one, find yourself a stand of pine trees and wait. You'll often hear them before you see them - they are quite vocal and make a series of buzzing and popping sounds which are amazingly loud given their size.
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