形態特征
灰(hui)松(song)鼠的(de)皮(pi)毛主要為(wei)灰(hui)色(se),但(dan)是也有略帶紅色(se)。其腹(fu)部為(wei)白色(se),尾(wei)(wei)巴很大且多(duo)毛。在城市里,由于威脅減少,常常可以看(kan)到(dao)白色(se)或黑(hei)色(se)的(de)灰(hui)松(song)鼠。在某(mou)些區域(yu),如加拿大東(dong)南部,幾乎全黑(hei)的(de)灰(hui)松(song)鼠有一(yi)定規模。同時也有一(yi)些變種,包括尾(wei)(wei)巴為(wei)黑(hei)色(se)的(de)品種,以及(ji)毛皮(pi)為(wei)黑(hei)色(se)但(dan)尾(wei)(wei)巴為(wei)白色(se)的(de)品種。其頭(tou)和身體長度(du)為(wei)23-30厘米,尾(wei)(wei)巴為(wei)19-25厘米,成年(nian)灰(hui)松(song)鼠體重為(wei)400-800克。
生活習性
灰松鼠是在(zai)(zai)白天(tian)活動,雜(za)食(shi)性,堅果、種子、芽(ya)、昆蟲(chong)、鳥蛋為食(shi)。有在(zai)(zai)秋天(tian)囤(dun)積糧食(shi)的習性,并(bing)靠這些食(shi)物過冬。
分布范圍
灰松鼠(shu)原(yuan)生于美國東(dong)部(bu)及(ji)中西部(bu)和加拿大(da)東(dong)部(bu)省份,后灰松鼠(shu)被引入(ru)到英(ying)國。
生長繁殖
通常每胎(tai)產2仔(zi),多時4仔(zi),十(shi)周(zhou)后(hou)斷奶(nai),1歲左右(you)性成熟,平均(jun)壽命八(ba)至九年。
保護級別
世界自(zi)然(ran)保護聯盟紅(hong)色名錄列為:無危(LC)
消滅倡議
灰(hui)(hui)松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)于(yu)19世紀70年(nian)代引(yin)入英國(guo)。最初引(yin)入目的是(shi)(shi)裝(zhuang)飾花園(yuan),然而(er),僅僅幾十年(nian),這(zhe)種繁(fan)殖(zhi)(zhi)力強的動物就(jiu)占領英格蘭大部。與本土(tu)的紅松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)相比,北美灰(hui)(hui)松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)要(yao)強壯(zhuang)許多,無(wu)論是(shi)(shi)搶奪食物還是(shi)(shi)繁(fan)殖(zhi)(zhi)都遠勝于(yu)紅松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)。更要(yao)命的是(shi)(shi)它(ta)們身(shen)上(shang)(shang)攜(xie)帶(dai)著一種松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)皰(pao)疹病毒(du),這(zhe)是(shi)(shi)一種濾過性皮膚病,灰(hui)(hui)松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)雖然攜(xie)帶(dai)病毒(du),但在它(ta)們身(shen)上(shang)(shang)并不發作,可是(shi)(shi)紅松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)卻對這(zhe)種病毒(du)十分(fen)敏感(gan),一旦傳染上(shang)(shang)就(jiu)會得病。患病后紅松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)健康狀(zhuang)況(kuang)急劇下(xia)降(jiang)無(wu)法覓(mi)食,兩(liang)周內就(jiu)會死于(yu)饑餓。在英國(guo)的灰(hui)(hui)松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)數(shu)量(liang)達(da)到約(yue)330萬(wan)只,而(er)紅松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)的數(shu)量(liang)僅為(wei)約(yue)16萬(wan)只。查爾斯王儲在致(zhi)鄉村土(tu)地(di)和商業聯合會的信中呼吁消滅灰(hui)(hui)松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)以保(bao)護紅松(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)。查爾斯在信中稱這(zhe)一措施得到廣泛支持。
鄉(xiang)村土地和商業(ye)聯合會支持查爾斯(si)的提(ti)議。英國防止虐待動物(wu)協(xie)會卻不(bu)贊(zan)成查爾斯(si)的觀(guan)點。協(xie)會發言人(ren)說,對灰(hui)松鼠實施(shi)滅絕措(cuo)施(shi)殘(can)忍,而且不(bu)一定能達到控制灰(hui)松鼠數量(liang)的目的。
灰(hui)松(song)鼠(shu)欺負紅松(song)鼠(shu):
據英(ying)國(guo)媒體報道,英(ying)國(guo)本土物(wu)種紅松(song)鼠面臨(lin)滅絕(jue)的危機,必(bi)須(xu)大規模捕殺灰松(song)鼠,并鼓(gu)勵(li)人們吃灰松(song)鼠。
自(zi)從19世紀從北美引進灰松(song)鼠(shu)(shu)以后,英國灰松(song)鼠(shu)(shu)數(shu)量已達約200萬只(zhi)(zhi),而本(ben)土的紅松(song)鼠(shu)(shu)由于在(zai)自(zi)然環境下不敵灰松(song)鼠(shu)(shu),數(shu)量逐漸只(zhi)(zhi)剩下16萬只(zhi)(zhi)。為了維(wei)護生態平衡,必(bi)須(xu)減少灰松(song)鼠(shu)(shu)的數(shu)量。
灰松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)原產于(yu)北美洲,如今卻是(shi)英(ying)國(guo)(guo)的(de)“害(hai)獸”。英(ying)國(guo)(guo)本土的(de)紅松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)不是(shi)灰松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)的(de)競爭對手,灰松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)身(shen)上攜帶的(de)一種致命病毒,也會讓紅松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)感染死亡(wang)。2011年(nian)牛津大學的(de)報告中稱,紅松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)可(ke)能在(zai)20年(nian)內滅絕。圖為英(ying)國(guo)(guo)倫敦,參與(yu)英(ying)女王(wang)登基(ji)慶典花(hua)園派對的(de)一只(zhi)灰松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)。而紅松(song)(song)(song)鼠(shu)已極為罕見。