Mount Graham red squirrel

The Mount Graham red squirrel is a generally tiny squirrel weighing on average around {{convert|8|oz|g}} and measuring about {{convert|8|in|cm}} in length. The subspecies also has a {{convert|6|in|cm|adj=on}} tail. Unlike most other squirrels in its species, the squirrels do not have a white-fringed tail. Both females and males share similar markings and features and are typically grayish brown in color with rusty yellow or orange markings on their backside. During the winter season, the squirrels' ears are tufted with fur, and during the summer a black lateral line is observed on the squirrel.{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Arizona/Documents/RecoveryPlans/MtGrahamRedSquirrel.pdf|title=Mount Graham red squirrel|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Lesley|author2=Genice Froehlich|author3=Terry Johnson|author4=Randall Smith|author5=Barry Spicer|date=May 3, 1993|publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque, New Mexico|accessdate=10 April 2010}}

The skull of the subspecies is rounded and its teeth are low-crowned.

Mount Graham red squirrels behave in a manner similar to most other subspecies of American red squirrel. They are diurnal and do not hibernate during the winter months, but instead carry out activities in the mid-day sun.{{cite web|url=http://www.ag.arizona.edu/research/redsquirrel/mgrs-nathistory.html|title=The Natural History of the Mount Graham Red Squirrel|publisher=The University of Arizona|accessdate=13 September 2012}} Mount Graham squirrels usually eat a diet of mixed seeds, conifer cones and air-dried fungi.

Historically, the Mount Graham red squirrel inhabited about {{convert|11750|acre|km2|1}} of spruce-fir, mixed-conifer and ecotone zone habitats that were generally at higher elevations throughout the Pinaleño Mountains.{{cite web|url=http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc1617.pdf|title=Mount Graham Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation|date=January 2008|publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arizona Ecological Services Field Office Phoenix, Arizona|accessdate=10 April 2010}} Recent data shows that it occurs more frequently at the ecotone zone than the other habitats. When choosing a potential nesting site, the squirrels typically pick a cool, moist area with an abundance of food sources. Drought, forest fires, and insect infestation have been responsible for a decrease of the squirrel in the spruce-fir habitat.

The Mount Graham subspecies was believed to be extinct in the 1950s, but was "rediscovered" in the 1970s.{{cite web|url=http://www.ag.arizona.edu/research/redsquirrel/mgrs-projhistory.html|title=The Mt. Graham Red Squirrel Research Program Project History |publisher=The University of Arizona|accessdate=13 September 2012}}

After its rediscovery, it was suggested for threatened or endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/federal_register/fr650.pdf|title=Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Vertebrate Wildlife for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species|date=December 30, 1982|publisher=Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.|accessdate=10 April 2010}}

On May 21, 1986, the subspecies was officially recommended to become an endangered species,{{cite journal|title=Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Determination of Endangered Status and Critical Habitat for the Mount Graham Red Squirrel|date=21 May 1986|last=Shull|first=Alisa M.|pages=18630-18634|volume=51|issue=98|journal=Federal Register}} {{Federal Register|51|18630}} and effective June 3, 1987, was listed as endangered.

The Mount Graham International Observatory was controversial when it was built in the squirrel's habitat; the observatory has been required to monitor the community near the observatory to determine if its construction is having any negative effects on the population. Habitat loss is also occurring at high levels for a variety of natural and anthropogenic reasons. In 1988, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated most of this area as a refuge, and access to the area is granted only with a special permit.

A lightning strike on June 7, 2017, started a wildfire that could have led to the extinction of this subspecies.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/climate/fires-hurricanes-endangered-animals.html|title=For an Endangered Animal, a Fire or Hurricane Can Mean the End|work=New York Times|date=October 25, 2017 |first=Livia |last=Albeck-Ripka}}

In September 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to consider if the squirrel needed further protection. They were petitioned under a procedure of the Endangered Species Act by a group that contends it is necessary to remove the observatory and other private structures.{{cite news |title=US officials to consider protections for endangered Arizona squirrel |url=https://ktar.com/story/2725706/us-officials-to-consider-protections-for-endangered-arizona-squirrel/ |accessdate=September 8, 2019 |work=KTAR News |date=September 5, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910194909/https://ktar.com/story/2725706/us-officials-to-consider-protections-for-endangered-arizona-squirrel/ |archivedate=2019-09-10}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Wikispecies|Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis}}

• [http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A09O USFWS Page]
• [http://www.ag.arizona.edu/research/redsquirrel/ Mount Graham Red Squirrel Research Program at School of Natural Resources and the Environment at University of Arizona]

{{portalbar|Mammals}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q6920967}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Tamiasciurus

Category:Endemic fauna of Arizona

Category:Endemic rodents of the United States

Category:Pinaleño Mountains

Category:Graham County, Arizona

Category:Mammals described in 1894

Category:Endangered fauna of the United States

Category:ESA endangered species

Category:Species that are or were threatened by habitat loss