Mating seasons and fertility of red squirrels in southern Québec

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Abstract
The breeding ecology of the red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) was studied in a mixed conifer – hardwood forest in southern Québec between June 1978 and October 1980. There were two mating seasons per year, one in March–April and one in June–July. The average size of 12 litters was 4.2 young (4.6 in 1979 and 4.0 in 1980). The sex ratio (female: male) of young was 23:25. The earliest recorded age at first successful mating was 10 months. In 1979, nearly all females, including yearlings, bred successfully in the spring and 50% of them raised a second litter. In 1980, only adult females produced young in the spring and four of six yearlings reproduced in the summer. A maximum of 29% of all females could have produced two litters in 1980. Differences in birth rate between the two years may be explained by a lower quality and (or) quantity of food resources at mating time rather than a drop in food supply available the previous fall.
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