Gray Squirrel (1960)

[Music] mother gray squirrel is looking for breakfast and these willow buds are delici [Music] ious in Spring squirrels hunt through the woods for tender buds to eat mother squirrel needs food for herself and she must make milk for her babies born just two weeks ago mother squirrel's babies are safely asleep in their nest high up in a tree mother takes a nap while the young squirrels get their lunch the babies are almost helpless their eyes haven't yet opened they're barely able to crawl about but they are warm and safe at this age mother's milk is their only food after lunch the babies take their nap about all these young squirrels can do is to eat and sleep [Music] now the babies are 3 weeks old their eyes have opened they're still rather helpless it's well that mother keeps them safe and warm in the nest mother squirrel leaves the nest only to get food is she trying to teach her babies how to climb and jump many times every day they try out their little legs and claws climbing about their nest in the old tree mother seems always in a hurry this youngster is doing pretty well his sharp claws dig in and his little legs are getting stronger squirrels spend most of their time in trees and so they must learn to be good climbers the babies are growing soon they will be able to take short trips outside the nest after the dark and quiet inside the tree how strange the woods will seem to them mother is hunting for nuts and acorns but the young squirrels see something else a rabbit even mother is startled what can this strange animal be it has long ears it has a little Powderpuff tail the Rabbit doesn't know what excitement he's causing they've never seen a rabbit [Music] now maybe it's safe to come out at last two young squirrels are outside their nest they watch their mother on the ground below why is she Gathering leaves why is she taking them up into that tree over there she is making a new Nest a nest of leaves she will soon have a new family of baby squirrels [Music] the young squirrels are doing very well and they're curious about that new [Music] Nest these youngsters will be able to care for themselves when the new babies are born mother seems satisfied The Nest is high up in the tree safe from her enemies how cool it will be for the new babies during the hot summer days just as the home in the tree was warm in [Music] Winter through the long days the young squirrels grow and have learned to climb and jump very well they're still curious about the nest of leaves mother built it's up in this tree somewhere here it is how different from their home inside the [Music] tree lunchtime again the young squirrels still play together but soon each will go his own way exploring playing about living like full grown squirrels another strange visitor a box tortoise creeping slowly through the [Music] woods a mother box tortoise and her baby the squirrels are not so timid now squirrels live where they can easily find water to drink the young squirrels have gone their separate ways and each is living by himself a long cool drink now for something to eat with plenty of water and food the squirrels grow fat through the summer how much those front paws look like little hands late in summer there are more acorns and nuts than the squirrels need to eat let's see what he does with this Acorn he buries it and we'll soon find out why winter has come snow covers the ground and the cold is everywhere squirrels sleep a great deal in Winter snug in their dens when they awaken they're very hungry how does a squirrel find food in Winter no tender buds on trees nuts and acorns have fallen and lie covered with snow the squirrels must search everywhere to find food they must be careful for Hungry enemies may be looking for them to catch them and eat them their enemies May smell them or see them or find them by following their tracks in the snow the squirrel's large hind feet leave two big prints his front feet two small prints can he find an acorn he buried in late summer or fall can he smell it through the snow there a safe place for lunch he can watch while he eats first sharp teeth tear the shell away then for the good sweet meat inside but look a hungry red fox does he see the squirrel does he smell him does he hear him maybe the fox's Keen nose has caught the scent of the squirrel the fox is one of the squirrel's worst enemies is he sniffing the tracks the squirrel made now the squirrel sees the fox off he goes just in time too late Mr Fox it's a good thing the squirrel kept his eyes and ears [Music] open what now Mr f box mother squirrel had a very good reason to build her homes high up in the trees